PHThe Philippine Daily Inquirer reports that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has mandated local government units (LGUs) across the country to create Safer School Zones (SSZs) in response to recent student-related violence in schools. The initiative involves deploying 277,744 village watchmen to enhance security around schools, addressing risks such as crime, traffic dangers, and environmental hazards. The policy, issued under Memorandum Circular No. 2026-037, aligns with the government's broader Safer Cities and Safer Communities Initiative, directing LGUs, barangays, schools, law enforcement, and communities to collaborate on improving school safety. Village watchmen are restricted to non-lethal roles, required to report serious incidents to specialized services, and limited to patrolling outside school grounds unless authorized. The move follows a school shooting in Tacloban that killed three students, prompting the Department of Education (DepEd) to introduce active shooter drills and seek PNP assistance amid ongoing threats.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the government's initiative to improve school safety as a neutral policy response to rising concerns over student safety. While the issue of school violence is politically sensitive, the reporting focuses on the official actions taken by the DILG and does not overtly favor any政治
