ILOILO City – The Department of Education (DepEd) has postponed its nationwide school active-attack drill scheduled for today, August 25, as mental health experts raised concerns that realistic simulations could traumatize students, while inclement weather forced the cancellation of face-to-face classes in several areas.
The exercise, intended for public and private elementary and secondary schools, may instead be held on September 3, although the date remains tentative pending further evaluation and coordination with concerned agencies, said Hernani Escullar Jr., information officer of DepEd Region 6.
He previously said the drill has the potential to save lives, “which is why it is crucial for the entire school community — students, teachers, staff, and parents — to engage with and take the drill seriously.”
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the department decided to defer the activity after the Philippine Psychiatric Association and Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry urged its suspension over concerns about the possible psychological impact on learners.
“Ipagpapaliban namin ‘yun. Makakapaghintay naman ‘yun. Nakikinig kami sa mga eksperto, rinerespeto natin ang kanilang pananaw at definitely i-incorporate namin ‘yung mga comments nila. Wala naman mawawala kung maghihintay tayo ng kaunting panahon,” Angara said.
The two medical groups warned that highly realistic simulations conducted so soon after the deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University could expose students to unnecessary psychological distress.
They also cited a 2025 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine which, they said, found insufficient evidence that such simulations improve safety outcomes.
They recommended alternatives such as tabletop exercises and trauma-informed safety procedures that could strengthen emergency coordination without exposing learners to simulated violence.
DepEd said weather conditions were another factor behind the postponement, with face-to-face classes already cancelled in several areas because of inclement weather.
“We have received reports on cancellation of face to face classes in many areas due to inclement weather. We are also consolidating expert opinions and evidence- based practices to strengthen our activity. For this reason, we are postponing the scheduled school safety drill to next week,” DepEd stated in an advisory.
“A formal Advisory will be released within the day. All DepEd field offices are hereby directed to immediately coordinate with their DILG, PNP, and BFP counterparts,” it added.
In Western Visayas, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño backed the postponement, saying authorities should carefully assess the implications of the exercise before proceeding.
“We fully support the decision to delay the simulation drill, as it allows us to study its implications more carefully and ensure that we are ready to proceed effectively,” Tuaño stated.
Despite the postponement, Tuaño said preparations for school safety protocols would remain a priority for law enforcement.
One live-shooter exercise had already been conducted at Manila Science High School, but Angara said succeeding drills would be reassessed based on recommendations from experts.
Angara acknowledged that the threat of school shootings remains a serious concern and said some students involved in previous incidents continued to experience trauma.
Beyond the drills, DepEd plans to strengthen security in schools nationwide through measures that include installing metal detectors and closed-circuit television cameras and reviewing existing security protocols.
The department also plans to coordinate with barangay officials to reinforce security in smaller schools without dedicated guards, with barangay tanods potentially deployed to patrol school premises during classes.
DepEd is likewise preparing to hire thousands of additional guidance counselors to address students’ mental health and emotional needs.
The postponement came less than two weeks after the Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting, which left two students dead and intensified calls for stronger school security alongside measures protecting learners’ psychological well-being./PN