ILOILO City – School security personnel across Iloilo City will undergo intensive instruction and hands-on operational drills as the city government steps up efforts to strengthen campus security, improve emergency preparedness, and standardize inspection procedures in schools.
The training, to be led by the Public Order and Safety Management Office (POSMO) in coordination with the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) next week, comes amid heightened concerns over school safety, and aims to ensure that security officers are fully equipped to detect potential threats and respond effectively to emergencies.
POSMO head Retired Police Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos said the activity is designed to refresh the knowledge and operational skills of school security personnel while reinforcing existing anti-terrorism and public safety protocols.
“We’ve done this previously as part of our anti-terrorism prevention program. We want to remind them of the proper security procedures and make sure they are prepared,” Garbanzos said.
The training will combine theoretical discussions with actual operational exercises to enhance the competence of security officers in carrying out inspections and enforcing preventive security measures.
Participants will receive instruction on visual inspection techniques, proper screening of backpacks and packages, and other preventive measures aimed at deterring security threats within school campuses.
“We will discuss prevention and public safety measures, including how to conduct visual searches of backpacks and packages,” Garbanzos said.
According to Garbanzos, the initiative also seeks to standardize security practices across educational institutions in the city while reminding security personnel of their responsibilities in safeguarding students and school communities.
“We have called the security officers so we can sit down with them, remind them of their responsibilities, and ensure they understand the proper way of conducting inspections, especially involving students,” he said./PN
