A child rights organization criticized active shooter drills in public schools on Thursday, calling them short-term reactions to a national rise in school violence.
A spokesperson for the group said government responses have been lazy, reactive, and merely stopgap measures that fail to confront underlying problems.
The organization urged authorities to prioritize long-term, scientific solutions rather than implementing drills to appear responsive.
Advocates argued that public funds should strengthen infrastructure supporting children's healthy development instead of band-aid approaches.
They emphasized that school violence is rooted in systemic issues including poverty and limited access to quality education and basic social services.
The Department of Education recently directed all public schools to create active threat response plans after a drill at Manila Science High School.
The simulation followed a shooting in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured twenty others one month earlier.
During the exercise, schools practiced lockdown protocols such as barricading doors, silencing devices, and staying low to the ground.
Teachers were assigned to lead evacuation procedures to ensure organized responses during potential threats.
The agency stated that drills form only part of a broader safety framework and cannot resolve the wider problem of school violence.
The education secretary said learners should not merely grow accustomed to physical safety drills and must also receive mental health support.
He called for accessible helplines and guidance services in every school so students can seek help without fear.
Additional measures include a national school safety audit, increased police patrols, and funding for surveillance systems and perimeter repairs.
Schools are expanding anti-bullying programs and teaching students to recognize early warning signs of abuse through social-emotional learning.
