School safety and child protection against violence and related threats emerged as key priorities for the second semester of 2026 during a high-level government security dialogue.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the Joint National and Regional Peace and Order Council meeting on October 16 at Malacañang Palace in Manila, where officials discussed measures and security challenges confronting the country.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the president directed relevant government offices and local governments to tighten school security and establish clear protocols for reporting and responding to bullying, violence, and emergencies.
According to the PCO, the chief executive also instructed stakeholders to protect children from harmful online content.
The meeting emphasized the need to increase police visibility, speed up emergency response, and improve public safety services.
Based on the latest PCO data, the Unified 911 recorded over 12 million calls from January to September concerning police matters, medical services, fires, violence against women and children, and search and rescue operations.
The dialogue provides national and regional agencies a platform to discuss measures to protect communities through stronger coordination.