Status of School Security Management in the Philippines: Issues and Concerns

BY:

ENRICO L. DE GUZMAN, CCSM

PRESIDENT- CAMPUS SECURITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILS. (CSMAP), INC.

SECURITY DEFINED
Implies a stable, relatively predictable

environment, in which an individual or group may pursue its end ---without disruption or harm ---without fear of such disturbance or injury *developing a situation in which loss or harm is not likely to occur

SECURITY AS RESPONSIBILITY
Security:

Basic function of management --- application and supervision is not only confined to the security unit within the organization. --- All levels of the organizations populace participate in the security program to ensure its effectivity and responsiveness.

GENERAL PHILIPPINE SCHOOL SECURITY POLICY

1.

The security and safety of all its human and material resources is the concern of every school and the responsibility of their protection and/or conservation of is assigned to the level of management where they belong and/or allocated.

GENERAL
2.

The task of coordinating the security and safety responsibility of all levels of management is assigned to the security department or any other organization covering the department (e.g. operations)

-----The head of the security department draws up

the necessary procedures, review and amend existing ones if need be, cause their efficient implementation and initiate appropriate actions for violators.

GENERAL
3.

Oftentimes, the Security Department is also given the responsibility of overseeing the cleanliness, habitability and safety of the school facilities. --- The safety, security and efficiency of the schools transportation service (inhouse/outsourced) are oftentimes included among the Departments duties and functions.

IMPLEMENTING SECURITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

1. ---

ACCESS CONTROL

Movement of personnel, visitors and vehicles inside the school campus are regulated for security purposes. --- Only persons who are properly identified and have legitimate purposes for entering are allowed access. --- Proper identification cards are issued to all who gain entry into the compound to include officials, faculty members, employees, students & visitors.

IMPLEMENTING..
2.

KEY CONTROL

Applied principle is all school keys are school properties

and are therefore accountable items.

---

loss or fall of school keys into wrong hands poses risk to school security system.
set of policies therefore and procedures to govern issuance,use, duplication and return of all keys to offices, classrooms, filing cabinets and table drawers are implemented.

---

IMPLEMENTING ..

3. PROPERTY CONTROL

Only duly authorized persons are allowed to take

properties out of the school compound.

Property control is implemented to establish

policies and procedures regarding bringing in and taking out of any property within the school campus.

IMPLEMENTING
4.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

---refers to the implementation of safety practices

in the school.
---------Preparedness of all sectors of the school in

reacting or dealing with emergency situations brought about by natural disasters like fire, earthquake, typhoons, flood and man-made hazards (e.g. bomb threats)

 EMERGENCY -is a sudden, generally unexpected

occurrence or set of circumstances demanding immediate action.

DISASTER
-is the sudden,

unforeseen and extraordinary occurrence that causes emergency or crisis.

It upsets the normal performance of

valued activities of the community.

DISASTER

EMERGENCY

CRISIS

EMERGENCY and CRISIS are the results of DISASTERS. CRISIS being the turning point of that

EMERGENCY if not immediately and properly addressed.

 CALAMITY - STATE OF GREAT DISTRESS - DETERMINED BY THE EXTENT OR

DEGREE OF THE RESULT OF THE DISASTER.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
FORMULATION OF A WELL DEFINED

SCHOOL SAFETY & SECURITY PROGRAM.

FORMULATION OF AN EMERGENCY

PREPAREDNESS MANUAL that should establish policies and procedures for the implementation of all safety practices and all guidelines for actions to be taken on emergency situation brought about by any disaster.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
FORMULATE A FIRE/EARTHQUAKE

PREPAREDNESS PLAN.
ORGANIZE A CENTRAL SAFETY

COMMITTEE THAT TAKES CHARGE OF DESIGNING THE FIRE/EARTHQUAKE PROCEDURES COVERING THE WHOLE INSTITUTION.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
ORGANIZE AN EMERGENCY BRIGADE, WHICH

WILL BE IMPLEMENTING THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES DESIGNED BY THE CENTRAL SAFETY COMMITTEE
FOR SELECTED PERSONNEL OF THE SCHOOL WHO WILL BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN MANNING DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.

CONDUCT TRAINING ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
DESIGNING THE EVACUATION DRILL
CONDUCT EFFECTIVELY ALL

DESIGNED EVACUATION DRILLS.

Food Poisoning
Food care must also be observed as part of

Emergency preparedness
Food poisoning is not only caused by outside factor
Food poisoning might also be caused by internal

factor like mishandling or negligence!

(video)

IMPLEMENTING..
5.

SCHOOL CAR MANAGEMENT

Set of guidelines establishing policies and procedures

for the assignment, maintenance and disposition of motor vehicles are present.

Guidelines include both official and personal use of the

vehicles and what to do in case of accident.

IMPLEMENTING..
6.

FIELD TRIPS & OTHER OFF-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

Its a common practice for schools to organize

field trips, join athletic competitions and academic contests off-campus.

Set of security policies and safety procedures are

formulated to assure well being of the students participating in all these activities.

IMPLEMENTING
7.

LABOR STRIKES

--- legal means resorted to by labor unions

in order to have their demands met by the management.

--- expected disruption of essential services

--- under extreme cases may result to

violence or vandalism

--- set of general guidelines are formulated

to minimize effect or impact.

IMPLEMENTING
8.

EXECUTIVE PROTECTION

It cannot be avoided that some personalities schools

in the Philippines are considered as VIPs.

---Its necessary therefore that sufficient guidelines

are drawn up by these schools in order to provide security to these VIPs.

SEMINARS ON VIP PROTECTION RECOMMENDED!

IMPLEMENTING..
9.

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

Flow of traffic on campus and on the immediate

vicinity of the school and parking areas are regulated to avoid accident and/or unauthorized parking. (VIDEO)

We would not want this to happen either!

ATENEO GRADE SCHOOL

STUDENT DIED WHEN HIT BY A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY A MOTHER INSIDE THE SCHOOL PARKING AREA!
(video)

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS STUDENTS SAFETY

AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE PRINCIPLE

OF LOCO PARENTI, THE SCHOOL ALSO LOOKS UP TO PROTECTION OF ACADEMIC RIGHTS OF ALL ITS STUDENTS AND ADULT MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

OBSERVANCE OF DUE PROCESS

STUDENT CHARGED ARE GIVEN DUE

PROCESS.

A.

HE IS TO BE PROPERLY INFORMED OF THE CHARGE. HIS RIGHT TO BE HEARD IS ALWAYS RESPECTED. HE IS ALLOWED TO ADDUCE EVIDENCE IN HIS BEHALF

B.

C.

OBSERVANCE OF DUE PROCESS

D. THERE IS ALWAYS AN IMPARTIAL

BODY TO HEAR THE CASE, CONSIDERING ALL EVIDENCES PRESENTED BEFORE COMING UP WITH A DECISION.
E.

PENALTY SHOULD COMENSURATE TO THE OFFENSE COMMITTED.

THE ANTI-CORPORAL PUNISHMENT LAW

Art. 232 of the Family Code provides- In no

case shall the school administrator, teacher, or individual engaged in child care exercising special parental authority inflict corporal punishment upon the child.
THE POWER TO INFLICT MODERATE

PUNISHMENT ON CHILDREN IS VESTED UPON BY ART. 316 OF THE NEW CIVIL CODE EXCLUSIVELY ON THE PARENTS.

THE ANTI-CHILD ABUSE LAW

R.A. 7610- AN ACT PROVIDING FOR

STRONGER DETERRENCE AND SPECIAL PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

CHILD ABUSE
Refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or

not, of the child which includes any of the following:

1.

Psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment. Any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being.

2.

CHILD ABUSE

3.

UNREASONABLE DEPRIVATION OF HIS BASIC NEEDS FOR SURVIVAL SUCH AS FOOD AND SHELTER. FAILURE TO IMMEDIATELY GIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT TO AN INJURED CHILD RESULTING TO SERIOUS IMPAIRMENT OF HIS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OR IN HIS PERMANENT INCAPACITY OR DEATH.

4.

ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACT OF 1995

R.A. 7877- AN ACT DECLARING SEXUAL

HARASSMENT UNLAWFUL, IN THE EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR TRAINING ENVIRONMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT
IN AN EDUCATION OR TRANING

ENVIRONMENT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS COMMITTED:

1.

Against one who is under the care, custody or supervision of of the offender. Against one whose education,training, apprenticeship is entrusted to the offender.

2.

ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT
3.

When the sexual favor is made a condition to the giving of a passing grade, or the granting of honors and scholarships, or the payment of a stipend, allowance or other benefits privileges or considerations
4. When the sexual advances result in an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for the student, trainee or apprentice.

 NEED FOR A SEXUAL

HARRASSMENT COMMITTEE ORGANIZED BY THE SCHOOL!

FACTORS AFFECTING CAMPUS PEACE & ORDER

INTERNAL

1.

STUDENT ACTIVISM- NORMALLY HAPPENS IN THE EXERCISE OF WHAT THE STUDENTS BELIEVE AS THEIR RIGHTS.

------------BUT OFTENTIMES LEAD TO

VANDALISM, ASSAULTING FELLOW STUDENTS, AND EVEN THEIR TEACHERS DOWN TO EVEN STOPPAGE OF THEIR CLASSES.

FACTORS AFFECTING CAMPUS PEACE & ORDER

INTERNAL 2.HAZING/FRATERNITY/

SORORITY

(VIDEO)

R.A. 8049- A CONGRESSIONAL ACT WHICH REGULATED

INITIATION RIGHTS AS IT REQUIRE PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE SCHOOL AUTHORITY OR HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION BEFORE THE CONDUCT OF THE INITIATION AND UNDERTAKING IS HELD.

FACTORS AFFECTING CAMPUS PEACE & ORDER

R.A. 8049- ASSURED THAT NO PHYSICAL

VIOLENCE WILL BE EMPLOYED.

--presence of the head of the school or

organization during initiation is required.

--liabilities imposed on officers and members

including other persons who planned the initiation, present or not, had actual knowledge but failed to report any untoward incident.

FACTORS AFFECTING CAMPUS PEACE & ORDER

3.

TEACHERS STRIKE- The security of the students then abandoned by their teachers become the major concerns of the security personnel as violence are always feared to erupt at anytime during a strike.

FACTOR AFFECTING CAMPUS PEACE &ORDER

THE EXTERNAL FACTORS-

refers to persons who are not in any way connected with the school but manage to get inside the school campus and engage in their nefarious activities because of lapses on the part of the security officers or there is defective security system or for reasons beyond everybodys control.

FACTORS AFFECTING CAMPUS PEACE & ORDER

EXTERNAL FACTORS: 1.

DRUG PROBLEM

----R.A. 7624- An act which integrates drug

prevention and control in the intermediate and secondary curriculum as well as the non-formal, informal and indigenous learning systems which discusses the ill effects of drug abuse, drug addiction, or drug dependency.

FACTORS AFFECTING CAMPUS PEACE & ORDER

EXTERNAL FACTORS: ---R.A.7624-AUTHORIZED DEPED TO ENLIST THE

ASSISTANCE OF ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY TO CARRY OUT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE LAW.

2.SNATCHING/THEFT/ROBBERY- OCCURING IN

SCHOOL CAMPUSES WITH OUR OWN STUDENTS AS THE MOST LIKELY VICTIM.

FACTORS AFFECTING CAMPUS PEACE & ORDER

EXTERNAL FACTORS
3.

REBELS/TERRORIST GROUPTHOSE REPORTED BURNING SCHOOL BUILDINGS

THOSE REPORTED TO BE ENGAGED IN

KIDNAPPING.

LIST OF SOME SCHOOL RELATED INCIDENTS

1. 24 February 2009- 10 yr. old Amiel

Alcantara overan by A van driven by a mother to fetch her own child

2. 27 August 2007 - Cris Anthony Mendez, a

graduating student of the National College of Public Administration and Governance. He was pronounced dead minutes later when brought to the hospital . He had had contusions on his extremities, particularly the arms and back of his leg, the tell-tale signs of his having undergone fraternity initiation rites.

 3. Aquila Legis made the headlines in 1993

when it was involved with the death of Lenny Villa, a neophyte who died because of the hazing in the initiation rites. The officers and members responsible were tried and some were convicted by the courts for homicide due to reckless imprudence. (?) group of frat men attacked him from behind near the school canteen while talking with his classmates.(?)

4. Death of Dennis Venturina in UP when a

 5. Death of a grade school student whose

head was banged against his classmates head by his teacher in a public school in Taytay, Rizal (2008) whistleblower of the anomalous practices of his ROTC superiors in a very famous Catholic University in Manila. School in Pasig who was struck by a falling piece of a broken window glass from the third floor of the school building.

6. Death of a CAT cadet who became the

7 The Student in a female Private Catholic

8. The HS students of a Catholic School in Manila who were resting in the fourth floor of their building with back against the iron grills when the iron grills gave way and fell on the ground (Channel 2) Luckily the victims survived. (2008) 9. A GS boy from a Catholic School in QC who fell from the third floor playing along the stairs balusters. Luckily the boy fell on the shoulder of a passing student. (200?)

10. The student from a Public school in Pasay who was washed away by the rushing current of Wawa Dam in Montalban as the bus they were riding slipped on its wheels while passing thru a cemented road across the river on their way to the venue of their field trip in a . (2008) 11. The HS student of a known private school in San Juan who fell from the Tramvia in Corregidor. That Student died in the hospital. ( 2009) 12. The GS girl who jumped from the third floor of a known all girls Catholic School in Manila. (2009)

13. The Stabbing (2009) incident of a student by a fellow student in a known Catholic College in Manila. 14. The death of Clark Anson Silverio- frat hazing victim, died March 2009 15. The students who died in Nueva Ecija when their school building collapsed in a magnitude 7 earthquake in July 1990. 16. The death of one student and another seriously injured when the fun ride (Catterpillar or Octopus ?) got loose from its bracket and flew at a distance in one of the prestigious exclusive school in Alabang (?year)

17.. The ROTC cadet from a known university in Manila who died during an ROTC initiation rite somewhere in Tanay some years back. 18. The professor from a known university in Manila who was shot to death when he was already out of the university campus (year ?) 19. The leg injury sustained by a HS student in one of the known private Catholic school in San Juan that led to the legal prosecution of the religious school administrator (year ?)

20. The Alleged Multiple Rape Case of a Female Student in a known state university in Manila which was suspected to be fraternity related. 21. The whole school building buried with students and teachers inside by a flash mudslide in Guinsaugon, a town in the South.
22. Death of a HS student riding on a schoolbus along C5 Road on his way to Ateneo (200?) 23. Chemical Spill in Makati Science High and in St. Andrew School in Paranaque (200?)

24. The Pamantasan ng Makati Student (Karl EJ Intia) whose body was found dead in Laguna, August of 2010 discovered to be a victim of Fraternity Hazing 25. The sudden rush of parents in a public school in Quezon City because of the indiscreet dissemination of info on bomb threat. 26. The kidnapping and killing of a coed from UP Los Banos just last 2011. 27. The recent robbery with frustrated homicide of a female student org. officer in UP Diliman, 2012.

 28. A female student from a known Catholic

University in Manila was ganged up and stabbed by female students in another university campus when she went to visit a friend in that known university , also in Manila (2012.)
29. Days after, in a very famous university in

Manila Coed jumped to her death in one of the buildings of the campus. (2012)

The Necessity of an Effective Security Mechanism

PARENTS WILL ALWAYS WISH THAT

THEIR SONS/DAUGHTERS ARE ENROLLED IN AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION THAT CAN TRULY PROVIDE ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR TOTAL EDUCATION WHICH IS A VITAL ASPECT OF THEIR HUMAN FORMATION!

 THE PREVAILING ATMOSPHERE OF

PEACE WILL ALWAYS ENHANCE THE INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS IN MAKING THEMSELVES MORE POSITIVELY RECEPTIVE TO THE OFFERS OF LEARNING FROM THEIR EDUCATORS AS THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH MORE IN THEIR LEARNING ENDEAVORS AS THERE IS ALWAYS THE FEELING BEING SAFE AND SECURED!

 SAFETY AND SECURITY WILL ALWAYS BE A

MAJOR CONCERN OF PARENTS AS THEY ENROLL THEIR SONS/DAUGHTERS IN SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE.

 THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE A PREVAILING

ATMOSPHERE OF PEACE TO MAKE TEACHING AND LEARNING FLOW SMOOTHLY, AS THESE ARE THE TWO DEMANDS OF THE TRUE FLOW OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS!

 WHAT IS BEST TO BE CONSIDERED AS THE

MOST EFFECTIVE AND STRONGEST TOOL FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF AN EFFECTIVE SCHOOL SECURITY AND SAFETY MECHANISM IS FOR EVERYONE AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO TAKE THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE CAMPUS AND TO CONSIDER KEEPING IT AS A PART OF HIS INHERENT DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY!

WITH EVERYONE IN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY ACCEPTING THAT:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!