The Cebu City government is considering the use of transparent school bags in public schools as part of efforts to strengthen campus security and prevent students from bringing prohibited items into school premises.
Kenneth Siasar, chief of staff of Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, said the use of transparent bags is among the policy directions being considered by the city government following discussions on school security measures.
Siasar said the proposed measure could address concerns over the privacy implications of inspecting students’ bags, as the contents would be visible without requiring school personnel to open and search them.
‘This is for the safety of your children,’ Siasar said during a press briefing on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026.
He said students generally would not be expected to bring items other than books, notebooks, and other school-related materials to campus, making transparent bags a possible additional layer of security.
The proposal comes as the city government also works with the Philippine National Police (PNP) on other measures intended to strengthen security in schools, including the deployment of metal detectors.
Siasar said the documentation required by the Local School Board for the metal detectors has been completed, although he could not confirm whether the equipment had already been delivered to the schools.
‘As far as the local school board is concerned, the documentation is okay, it can be delivered,’ he said.
He added that the city government is coordinating with the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) on school-security concerns.
The city’s security measures also include discussions on the inventory and accountability of service firearms issued to government employees.
Siasar said the matter was among the concerns discussed between the mayor and PNP officials, particularly the need to account for government-issued firearms.
He also noted that individuals who are not deemed capable of safely handling firearms should not be allowed to carry them, subject to existing licensing and regulatory requirements.
‘This is part of the discussion with the mayor of the PNP, the inventory,’ Siasar said.
The push for additional security measures follows renewed attention on school safety and the challenges of preventing weapons and other prohibited items from entering school premises.