CARMONA CITY, CAVITE - Carmona City served as the ceremonial site for the Department of Education's Nationwide Simultaneous Safety Drill on September 3, 2026, with the Office of Civil Defense CALABARZON and DepEd officials praising the successful execution of the full-scale exercise at Angelo L. Loyola Senior High School. The drill, which focused on active shooter and intruder attack scenarios, tested the school community's security systems and emergency response protocols.
A Collaborative Effort for School Safety
The nationwide safety drill was originally scheduled for August 25 but was postponed following recommendations from medical groups, including the Philippine Psychiatric Association and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry . DepEd engaged in continuous dialogues with mental health partners to ensure that safety protocols aligned with child-centered, trauma-informed standards under the "Do No Harm" directive . Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that safety is not just about physical security but equally about protecting children's peace of mind .
The drill featured three key phases: drill initiation and alarm, classroom lockdown and concealment, and orderly evacuation with responder compliance posture . All hyperrealistic or fear-inducing elements—such as threat simulations, active aggressor role-players, bladed weapons, firearms, pyrotechnics, and simulated gunfire—were strictly banned . Police involvement was limited to external perimeter security and emergency notification systems . DepEd Undersecretary Malcolm Garma noted that "we no longer utilized an attacker" and that the term "attack" is being avoided in favor of "school safety".
OCD and DepEd Leaders Praise the Exercise
DepEd IV-A Assistant Regional Director Loida N. Nidea expressed gratitude to all supporting agencies whose collaboration ensured the operation's success. OCD CALABARZON Regional Director Carlos Eduardo E. Alvarez, represented by Operations Chief Randy de la Paz, reaffirmed the office's commitment to a "whole of community and whole of society" approach to school-based safety exercises.
Angelo L. Loyola Senior High School in Carmona City was selected as the regional ceremonial site. The school has previously been recognized for its educational innovations, including the launch of a 21st Century Learning Environment Model as a highlight of the 2024 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week . Following the drill, designated guidance personnel and school health officers provided psychological first aid and post-drill debriefing sessions, with clear referral arrangements for students needing specialized mental health care .
