School shooter drills won’t deter violence – ACT

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July 9, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Preparedness measures alone cannot prevent violence in schools, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said yesterday.

Active shooter drills in schools will be launched tomorrow by the Department of Education.

“Schools must remain genuine zones of peace and safety and not places where active shooter drills become a regular necessity because the conditions that breed insecurity remain unaddressed,” ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo said.

“Chronic underfunding of education, shortages of teachers and education support personnel, weak mental health and psychosocial support systems, inadequate school safety infrastructure and a broader culture of impunity marked by the lack of accountability for abuses of power undermine the ability of our education system to protect learners,” Bernardo said.