Turning Safety Plans Into Practice
OZAMIZ CITY - A safety plan becomes more useful when the people expected to follow it understand what to do. This is one reason drills remain part of school preparedness programs. On September 2, the Schools Division of Ozamiz City issued Division Memorandum No. 416, Series of 2026, concerning the conduct of the National Simultaneous School Safety Drill. The memorandum places Ozamiz schools within the nationwide activity. Rather than treating preparedness as something found only in a written contingency plan, the exercise gives school personnel and learners an opportunity to become familiar with established procedures. The emphasis is practical: knowing where to go, whom to contact, and how to respond appropriately.
Preparedness With Children in Mind
The national rollout of the drill was adjusted after DepEd postponed the original August 25 schedule. Reporting from Philippine Star noted that the additional preparation time was intended to ensure the exercise reflected recommendations involving weather preparedness, child protection, and psychosocial support. DepEd also said the revised drill would be age-appropriate and trauma-informed. That distinction is important for schools in Ozamiz City. Emergency preparedness does not have to depend on frightening demonstrations to teach useful habits. A well-organized exercise can instead focus on communication, coordination, protective actions, and recovery. The approach recognizes that students have different ages, experiences, and emotional responses, making thoughtful preparation an important part of school safety.
A School Exercise With Practical Lessons
For Ozamiz schools, the September drill can serve as a chance to look closely at how existing safety arrangements work in actual school settings. Questions about communication, movement, coordination, and support can reveal areas that need clarification before a genuine emergency occurs. DepEd's national guidance also calls attention to learner welfare, including the availability of appropriate psychosocial support under school contingency plans. This makes the exercise broader than simply conducting a timed activity. It is about helping school communities understand their responsibilities while keeping students protected during the process. The Ozamiz City division's September 2 issuance provides the local administrative basis for participating schools to carry out the national exercise.
