MANILA – The government is studying the possible deployment of barangay tanods inside schools as part of efforts to strengthen campus security following recent shooting incidents, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Education are discussing a possible agreement that would allow barangay tanods, particularly women, to serve as visible security personnel inside school grounds.
The proposal is still under study and could be finalized as early as next week, Castro said.
The discussions follow the Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, where three students, including the shooter, were killed and six others were injured. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation into the attack, including how a minor obtained and brought a firearm into the school.
The proposed deployment would build on existing DILG measures that already encourage barangay tanods to patrol school premises and nearby areas. In July, the department also directed local governments to establish Safer School Zones and mobilize barangay tanods nationwide.
Castro said the government is also looking at measures involving parents, teachers and other school personnel, including parenting sessions and training on trauma-informed care and the identification of possible behavioral warning signs among students.
She said authorities are examining broader concerns involving family relationships, online interactions and access to firearms, stressing that school safety cannot be addressed by security measures alone.
The Palace also urged licensed firearm owners to keep their weapons securely stored and out of the reach of children.
