The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed barangays nationwide to deploy tanods to public schools for the current school year, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), following a recent shooting incident at a Nueva Ecija school.
In an exclusive interview with DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the move aims to provide students with immediate assistance in cases of bullying, harassment, or other safety concerns.
“Pinapadesignate ko po ang mga kapitan natin na maglagay ng tanod sa mga eskwelahan, sa kapiligaring eskwelahan, para may matatakbuhan ng mga bata. Basta may bullying na nangyayari,” Abalos explained.
“Maraming klaseng bullying. May emotional bullying, may physical bullying. Dapat may alam nila na mayroon silang matatakbuhan,” he added.
He also said they had been receiving numerous complaints and had discussed the matter with DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, stressing the need to take significant steps to put a stop to it.
Remulla added that while guidance counselors remain the primary authority in resolving student disputes, he noted that barangay tanods can serve as first responders, particularly in situations where physical intervention is necessary.
He added that tanods can also help manage larger altercations that school staff may find difficult to control.
“Ang dapat talagang umareglo niyan, yung guidance counselors ng eskwelahan. Pero minsan hindi nila mapuntahan. Kaya mabuti na lang may tanod. Lalo na yung mga malalaking bata, malaki lalaki. Hindi mapipigilan ‘yan ng basta-basta. Kailangan may lalaki, kapwa lalaki na kaya pumigil sa kanila,” he said.
The directive comes after the unprecedented shooting incident in Nueva Ecija, where a firearm was brought inside the school premises, leaving two students dead.
Abalos admitted that conducting full security inspections or installing metal detectors in every school is “impossible,” especially in institutions with thousands of students.
“Sa dami-dami ng ating mga eskwelahan, ngayon lang nangyari na ganyan na nagbarilan sa loob. Pero syempre, gagawa pa rin kami ng paraan para hindi na maulit yan,” he assured.
In an official statement, DILG said that under the Memorandum Circular 2025-072, barangays are instructed to coordinate closely with nearby DepEd schools "to assign tanods who will manage traffic during school opening and dismissal, patrol school premises and nearby areas frequented by students, monitor and report incidents that may threaten safety, and perform other lawful duties assigned by the Punong Barangay or the police to secure school zones."
