The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) is offering free lectures and training to schools to help equip students and teachers with the knowledge needed to respond during an active-shooter or school shooting incident, but so far, private schools have been the only ones taking up the offer.
NBI-7 agent Maria Contessa Lastimoso said the bureau has been conducting its Active Shooter Preparedness and Prevention Seminar every two weeks, but public schools have yet to participate.
‘Despite the free lectures that NBI offered, no takers among the public schools. Only the private schools,’ Lastimoso told Cebu media on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.
She said students have also been included in the seminars, rather than limiting the discussions to school personnel.
At St. Theresa’s College (STC), for instance, both teachers and students attended the seminar. Bethany Christian School has also participated, while the University of Cebu sent its security personnel.
The Redemptorist Seminary is scheduled to attend a seminar this week, Lastimoso said.
Lastimoso said the NBI has also reached out to several public schools, including Abellana National School, Lahug Elementary School, Zapatera Elementary School and Guadalupe Elementary School, through letters inviting them to participate in school information drives.
However, she said the schools have yet to communicate with the bureau.
The NBI-7’s push comes amid growing concern over school security and the need for institutions to prepare for the possibility of an armed attack.
Lastimoso said schools should not wait for an actual incident before taking preparedness seriously.
‘We offer our lectures for free. Lets not wait for something like this to happen. Awareness is key,’ she said.
In a separate interview on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, Naga City Mayor Valdemar ‘Val’ Chiong, meanwhile, said he is open to introducing active-shooter preparedness measures in public schools in the city. Chiong said police personnel regularly patrol schools, while the city government employs watchmen assigned to every school. However, he said Naga’s public schools do not currently use metal detectors.
Asked whether active-shooter drills or simulations could be introduced in schools in the same way as earthquake drills, Chiong said he was open to the idea.
‘I’m open to that,’ he said.
Naga has 28 barangays, 22 of which have high schools, making coordination and implementation a consideration for the city government, Chiong said.
The mayor also said schools have counselors to assist students dealing with bullying and traumatic experiences, while parents should take primary responsibility for monitoring their children’s activities, particularly online.
DepEd-7 working on active-shooter protocols
Last month, the proposed school-based training also came into light as the Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) works with the Philippine National Police (PNP) on formal protocols for active-shooter drills in public schools.
DepEd-7 Legal Officer IV Atty. Leslie Joie Babatuan earlier said the regional office is finalizing a memorandum of agreement with the PNP that would provide clearer procedures for responding to active threats on school campuses.
The initiative follows recent incidents that have heightened concerns about school security.
Babatuan said DepEd-7 is studying how public schools can conduct preparedness activities with law enforcement agencies while avoiding an excessive police or military presence on campuses.
She noted that an active-shooter drill had already been conducted at a Cebu City school with the participation of the PNP, its Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) units, the Bureau of Fire Protection and other agencies.
At the same time, Babatuan stressed that schools must remain ‘zones of peace’ and places where children can learn without feeling that their campuses have been militarized.
She said DepEd has existing policies governing police presence and firearms in schools and would rather strengthen prevention measures while ensuring schools are prepared to respond to emergencies.