The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO) is set to conduct active shooter and bomb threat drills in schools across the province to prepare students, teachers and school personnel for emergencies.

NORPPO spokesperson Captain Stephen Jaynard Polinar said the drills aim to equip school communities with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to active shooter incidents and bomb threats.

“We want schools to learn the basics and develop the necessary skills to respond to these emergencies,” Polinar told the Philippine News Agency.

The planned exercises follow a bomb threat at Silliman University in Dumaguete City last week and another threat posted on social media over the weekend, claiming bombs were planted in schools in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

The police have since intensified security measures by conducting regular foot and mobile patrols and coordinating with village peace officers, particularly during school opening, lunch breaks and dismissal hours.

Polinar said the NORPPO is awaiting operational guidelines from the national headquarters to ensure uniform implementation of the drills nationwide.

“We have to ensure that the drills are in accordance with the guidelines of higher headquarters for uniformity, although some innovations may be required depending on the nature of a school,” he said.

He assured the public that NORPPO has sufficient personnel to respond even if multiple incidents occur simultaneously in different campuses. Additional police personnel from nearby municipalities and specialized units can be deployed when needed, while the Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are also ready to provide support during emergencies. (PNA)