Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go raised concerns over gaps in school security, citing Department of Education data showing that only about 36 percent of schools nationwide comply with key safety measures.

During a Senate hearing on the 20 August Zamboanga City school shooting, Go said only about four in 10 schools have closed-circuit television cameras, while just one in 10 has metal detectors.

The figures, he said, underscored the need to strengthen security and emergency preparedness following recent school shootings in Zamboanga City and Tacloban City.

“Schools should remain zones of peace and learning. No student should be afraid at school, and no school should become a place of violence,” Go said.

The senator said the two fatal shootings within less than two months exposed gaps not only in physical security but also in child protection, mental health support and responsible firearm ownership.

“These heartbreaking tragedies are warning signs that demand our immediate attention. They expose deeper gaps in school safety, child protection, mental health, and responsible firearms ownership. These are gaps that we can no longer ignore,” he said.

Go said physical security measures such as CCTV cameras and metal detectors should be complemented by clear emergency response protocols, better communication with parents and closer coordination among schools, local governments, law enforcement and health authorities.

He recently filed Senate Bill 2413, or the proposed Safe Schools and Violence Prevention Bill, which seeks national standards for school safety, including mandatory safety plans, annual risk assessments, mental health interventions and standardized responses to shootings, bullying, fires, disasters and other emergencies.