Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the Department of Education (DepEd) will roll out “active shooting drills” in schools to help prepare teachers and students for emergencies involving active shooters. The announcement emphasizes the government’s push to improve safety readiness in classrooms and ensure that both educators and learners understand what actions to take when a real incident occurs.
In explaining the plan, Angara stressed the importance of advance preparation. He noted that drills are intended to teach practical steps during an active shooting event, so that students and teachers are not left unsure when a crisis happens. The approach is anchored on preparedness and clear guidance, with the drills designed to familiarize school staff and learners with procedures that can reduce confusion and support safer responses during emergencies.
The Education Secretary’s statement highlights a broader recognition that schools must have structured protocols for violent incidents. By introducing active shooting drills, DepEd aims to standardize training across learning institutions and help ensure that safety measures are understood and followed. In such emergencies, quick decision-making and coordinated action are critical, and drills are meant to make those responses more automatic for those on campus.
While the details of the drill mechanics and specific instructions were not fully laid out in the provided text, the core purpose is clear: to build readiness. The active shooting drills are meant to show teachers how to respond according to established protocols, and to give students an understanding of what to do in the event of an attack. The intention is to empower the school community with knowledge and reduce panic by turning emergency responses into practiced actions.
The announcement is also framed as part of the Department’s responsibility to protect learners. For Angara, preparation is not optional—schools must be ready for the possibility of such threats. The drills serve as an intervention to strengthen emergency preparedness and resilience within school settings, ensuring that safety procedures exist not only on paper but are actually practiced.
In the context of school safety, the statement also reflects the need for consistent communication and instruction. Teachers play a key role in managing classroom situations during emergencies, while students need age-appropriate guidance to understand how they should act. Drills can provide that structured training, helping students recognize cues and follow directions while remaining as calm as possible under pressure.
Angara’s message suggests that DepEd’s drills are aimed at improving the overall emergency management capacity of schools. This includes enabling school staff to better coordinate with one another and act decisively, and ensuring learners understand the basic steps that can be taken during a crisis.
Overall, the plan reflects an effort to make schools more prepared for serious security incidents by using training and rehearsal. Active shooting drills are presented as a proactive measure that equips the school community with a clearer, more informed response plan. The goal is to help reduce confusion and improve safety outcomes by ensuring that teachers and students are familiar with what to do.
By launching these active shooting drills, DepEd under Angara’s leadership is taking a direct step toward strengthening school emergency readiness. The initiative underscores that preparation through drills can help transform emergency procedures into learned, practiced actions, benefiting the entire school community when facing high-stress situations.
Source: Education Secretary Sonny Angara (“Source” referenced as provided).
The Situation Report: WATCH: Upang maging handa ang mga mag-aaral sa mga paaralan sa panahong magkaroon ng active shooter, sinabi ni Education Secretary Sonny Angara na ilulunsad ng Department of Education ang ‘active shooting drills’ para alam ng mga guro at mag-aaral ang mga dapat gawin kapag may. #breaking
— @TheSitRepPH May 1, 2026