𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐃: 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐃 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐒
The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) Central Visayas and the DepEd Cebu Province Division to further strengthen campus security measures following growing concerns over student and school safety.
The initiative reinforced the Executive Order No. 35 issued by Governor Pamela Baricuatro on June 25, 2026, establishing the Cebu Safe Schools Program, a province-wide initiative to prevent violence and strengthen school safety. The order institutionalizes a comprehensive school safety framework, requiring schools to implement measures for violence prevention, emergency preparedness, mental health support, and incident response.
The EO also promotes coordinated action among government agencies, schools, law enforcement, parents, and communities to ensure that educational institutions remain safe, secure, inclusive, and resilient learning environments for students and school personnel.
During its regular session on Monday, July 6, PB Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III pointed out the urgency of reinforcing school security, saying recent incidents involving students have heightened public concern and anxiety.
Appearing before the PB, DepEd Regional Director Dr. Arturo Bayocot and DepEd Cebu Province Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Senen Paulin presented the agency’s ongoing initiatives to ensure the safety and well-being of learners and teachers across schools in the province.
Among the measures being implemented is the directive for schools to allocate a portion of their Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) for the procurement of metal detectors to strengthen campus security. However, Dr. Paulin acknowledged that security challenges remain, particularly in schools with limited infrastructure.
“No matter how stringent our security measures are in the school, there are schools where stringent security measures do not take effect because, for one, some of our schools are not even fenced,” Paulin said.
DepEd also reported that it is intensifying the implementation of the Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) program and other values formation initiatives to help promote positive behavior among learners.
On student mental health, the agency said support mechanisms are already in place despite the shortage of guidance counselors in schools. Teachers trained by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Office are serving as Psychological First Aid providers to assist students when necessary.
NO TOTAL BAN ON CELLPHONES
Paulin clarified that the DepEd Order No. 6, Series of 2006 or Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment (ESMLE) does not prohibit students from bringing mobile phones to school. Instead, the policy restricts the use of gadgets during instructional time unless authorized by the teacher for learning purposes.
He explained that while students may bring their phones inside the campus, their use is generally prohibited during class hours unless required as part of classroom instruction.
Meanwhile, Bayocot said DepEd remains open to adopting stricter security measures but emphasized that any additional policies, including inspections, must have a clear legal basis.
“We want to go beyond, but there are legal premises that we have to be careful of – the Data Privacy Act and the constitutional rights of our children not to be inspected. That’s why we are still waiting for a written authority for us to do that, and we will happily implement it as long as there is a legal basis,” Bayocot said.
At the same time, Bayocot acknowledged the importance of mobile phones during emergencies, noting that they provide parents with a way to immediately communicate with their children. He added that Deped also respects the policies that chiefs of local government units may adopt within their respective municipalities
The discussions before the Provincial Board were also strenghtened by several proposed ordinances approved through an omnibus motion authored by PB Members Mike Villamor, Alfie Ouano, and Nilo Seno.
The measures urge all public and private schools in Cebu Province to strengthen campus security, review and enhance emergency response protocols, request the deployment of Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel in schools, and implement comprehensive student safety and mental health programs in support of EO No. 35 issued by Governor Baricuatro. /𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶, 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔 𝒀𝑱𝑩, 𝑭𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔
Check this also: Cebu EO No. 39 ASF Ban May Extend Beyond 45 Days Amid Continuous Review
