The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered all regional offices and stations to collaborate with education officials to secure campuses nationwide following a recent deadly school shooting, the agency announced Sunday.

PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed commanders to work alongside the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to increase police visibility and secure major student activities both on and off campus.

The security push follows a 22 June school shooting in Tacloban City that left three students dead. In response to the violence, DepEd requested stricter safety protocols and increased police patrols around educational facilities.

Nartatez said the heightened security measures align with a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who called for a comprehensive government and community effort to protect students following recent incidents of violence involving minors.

“We encourage schools to coordinate with local police stations before conducting major off-campus activities so that proper security assessments, emergency response planning, traffic management, and coordination with rescue and medical services can be undertaken,” Nartatez said.

“Prevention begins with strong partnership and advance planning,” he added.

Under the new operational directive, local police forces must integrate schools, colleges, and universities into their daily patrol routes and visibility planning.