In light of the recent incident, the Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated its call for heightened vigilance and stricter preventive measures against school violence and threats to learner safety.

In a statement, the DepEd central office directed all field offices to intensify safety measures and violence prevention strategies, including banning deadly weapons and other prohibited items, strengthening anti-bullying and anti-violence reporting mechanisms, and providing mental health and learner support services.

The department also urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure that schools remain safe, secure, and nurturing spaces for every learner.

DepEd has called on its partners in the community to strengthen school security protocols and uphold the shared duty to make every school a zone of peace.

The agency condemned the recent act of violence at Sta. Rosa Integrated School in Nueva Ecija, which resulted in two casualties.