The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday postponed a nationwide drill aimed at preparing schools for active attacks, citing the bad weather and the need to ensure the exercise is safe and trauma-informed for students.

The drill scheduled for Tuesday, 25 August, will instead be held in the first week of September, with the date to be announced, the department said on Monday.

“We will defer it for now because it can wait. We are listening to the experts and respecting their views, and we will definitely incorporate their comments,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in Filipino in a radio interview.

In an advisory, the DepEd said, “The rescheduled activity shall remain age-appropriate and trauma-informed, focusing on basic protective actions, communication, coordination, accountability, and recovery. Schools shall avoid hyper-realistic or graphic simulations that may cause unnecessary fear or distress.”

Schools were also reminded to include psychological first aid and appropriate psychosocial support in their contingency plans and to ensure that these services are available when needed.

The postponement came as several areas suspended face-to-face classes due to the prevailing inclement weather.

The Philippine Psychiatric Association and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on Saturday called for the drill to be postponed, warning that poorly designed simulations could expose the students to unnecessary psychological distress.