Overview
- On Thursday a large drill at Carlos F. Gonzales High School in Bulacan brought together about 3,000 students, teachers, police and emergency responders to rehearse an active‑shooter scenario.
- Students practised lockdown moves such as locking and barricading doors, drawing curtains, switching off lights and sheltering under desks while police swept classrooms and declared the campus secure.
- The Education Department revised its guidance to prohibit graphic role‑playing, require a distinct early‑warning alarm different from fire or quake signals, and ensure post‑drill psychosocial support.
- Officials who observed the exercise said the drills tested coordination among schools, local police and emergency units and helped identify gaps in evacuation, headcounts and first‑aid procedures.
- The drills follow rare fatal school attacks and are feeding policy talks on safer firearm storage, accountability for service weapons, limits on minors’ online exposure and expanded school mental‑health services.