𝐆𝐎𝐕. 𝐏𝐀𝐌 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒 ‘𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌’ 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐁 𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄, 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐔𝐒 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐘
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has signed Executive Order No. 35 establishing the “Cebu Safe Schools Program,” a province-wide initiative aimed at preventing violence and strengthening safety measures in schools across the province.
The measure institutionalizes a province-wide framework for school safety and requires the creation of mechanisms for violence prevention, emergency preparedness, mental health support, and incident response in educational institutions throughout Cebu.
The EO adopts a coordinated approach among government agencies, schools, law enforcement authorities, parents, and communities to ensure that educational institutions remain “safe, secure, inclusive, and resilient learning environments” for students and school personnel.
Under the order signed on June 25, the Provincial Government adopts a policy promoting a “whole-of-government and whole-of-community approach” to school safety, child protection, mental health, disaster preparedness, and emergency response.
CEBU SAFE SCHOOLS COMMITTEE
A key feature of the measure is the creation of the Cebu Safe Schools Committee (CSSC) under the Provincial School Board. The committee will be chaired by Gov. Baricuatro, with DepEd Cebu Province Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Senen Priscillo Paulin serving as vice chairperson.
The committee also counts as members heads of different Capitol departments including the Provincial Welfare Development Office, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Gender and Development Office; as well as chairman of the Provincial Board’s committee on education and the president of Sangguniang Kabataan Provincial Federation.
The director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office also sits in the committee, as well as representatives from the Parents-Teachers Associations, teachers’ organizations, School Superintendents of all component cities and municipalities, and the private sector.
The CSSC is tasked with formulating and regularly updating the province’s Safe Schools Framework and Action Plan, coordinating violence prevention efforts, developing emergency response protocols, and recommending policies and funding support for school safety initiatives.
CEBU SAFE SCHOOLS PLAN
The order also directs the committee to prepare a Cebu Safe Schools Plan (CSSP) within 90 days from its effectivity. The plan will include school safety standards, risk assessment mechanisms, emergency preparedness programs, violence prevention strategies, crisis communication protocols, mental health support initiatives, capacity development programs, monitoring and evaluation indicators, and funding requirements.
To strengthen campus security, the EO mandates the standardization of safety protocols in schools, including controlled access systems, visitor management procedures, and the regular conduct of fire, earthquake, and lockdown drills. Schools will also be required to conduct annual safety assessments and implement necessary improvements.
The EO further encourages the participation of local government units, barangays, parents’ organizations, civil society groups, faith-based organizations, youth groups, and private sector partners in promoting school safety, violence prevention, and child protection.
In cases of school-related emergencies, the Provincial Government will enhance inter-agency coordination to ensure timely emergency response, medical assistance, law enforcement support, psychosocial intervention, and post-incident recovery services.
The EO, which takes effect immediately upon publication, also mandates all provincial offices, agencies, and local government units in Cebu Province to comply with the order and cooperate with the CSSC in implementing the Cebu Safe Schools Program. /CAPITOL PIO
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