Talisay City turns over 100 metal detectors to public schools

Local

AS PART of a wider wave of security upgrades across Cebu, public schools in Talisay City have been equipped with metal detectors.

Mayor Gerald Anthony ‘Samsam’ Gullas announced that the city government has turned over more than 100 handheld metal detectors to its at least 25 public schools.

The initiative, said Gullas, serves as one of the several proactive measures aimed at strengthening school security.

"It is not meant to create fear, but to ensure that we are better prepared to protect our children," he said.

City officials also conducted training and orientation for school principals, guards and other security personnel on the devices' proper use before the distribution.

Additionally, principals will oversee further distribution of the detectors to their respective school guards and security teams to ensure each unit is used properly and only for its intended purpose.

"The safety of our students will always be one of our top priorities," Gullas said.

The rollout comes after online threats from a Facebook user prompted two schools in Talisay City to temporarily suspend classes.

Local governments across Cebu have since rolled out their own measures in the wake of the deadly and rare school shooting that killed three students in Tacloban City.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival announced in late June that the city would seek funding through the Local School Board to purchase handheld metal detectors for public school security guards, on top of emergency response measures including mobile alert buttons for schools and an upcoming panic button application to notify police.

Mandaue City schools have adopted a Department of Education (DepEd) circular which mandates non-contact entrance inspections using metal detectors and visual bag checks, together with more police deployment, mandatory bag inspections and the possible purchase of additional metal detectors for public schools.

For its part, Lapu-Lapu City ordered stronger security through vehicle passes and biometric registration.(RBE)