The Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) not to proceed with its planned nationwide active attack simulation involving students on Tuesday, 25 August, warning that preparedness for physical threats should not come at the expense of children’s psychological safety.

In a position statement dated Sunday, 23 August, the PPS acknowledged the need to strengthen school security following recent incidents of violence in Philippine schools but raised concerns over involving students in active attack and lockdown simulations.

“Preparedness matters. But preparation for physical danger must not come at the cost of children’s psychological safety,” the group said.

The PPS said available evidence on children’s participation in active attack and lockdown drills remains “limited, mixed, and overwhelmingly drawn from the United States.”

While announced and low-intensity drills may help students learn basic safety procedures, the group said some studies have reported anxiety, avoidance or a reduced sense of safety among children following such exercises.

It added that there is insufficient evidence showing that realistic or high-intensity simulations provide additional benefits.

“For these reasons, PPS believes that the planned nationwide active attack simulation involving learners should not proceed in its current form on August 25, 2026,” the group said.

“We respectfully call on the Department of Education (DepEd) to use the scheduled activity for non-simulated preparedness work while undertaking an urgent technical review of active attack simulation protocols involving learners,” it added.

The pediatricians stressed that they are not calling for the abandonment of school preparedness measures.

“This is not a call to abandon preparedness. It is a call to strengthen it,” the PPS said.

The group recommended that schools first conduct a transparent assessment of their security and preparedness, including access controls, doors and locks, alarm and communication systems, evacuation and shelter areas, family reunification procedures, trained response teams and available medical and psychological support.

The PPS also urged schools to assess the individual needs of students and the readiness of communities before conducting simulations.

Children with physical, sensory, developmental, intellectual, communication or mental health needs should be provided accommodations, modified participation, alternative activities or exemptions, it said.

The group said student drills should not be conducted in communities recently affected by school violence until a qualified multidisciplinary team has assessed their readiness.

If student drills are eventually conducted, the PPS said they should be announced, low-intensity, developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed.

“Drills must not use deception, surprise, simulated gunfire, realistic weapons or injuries, or aggressive attacker role-play,” the group said.

“Children should not be instructed or expected to confront or stop an attacker as part of a drill,” it added.

Parents and guardians should also be notified in advance and given the option to request modified participation or exemption for their children.

The PPS called on DepEd to establish a multidisciplinary and multisectoral technical working group to develop Philippine-specific guidelines before implementing such exercises nationwide.

The group said preparedness measures should also be accompanied by stronger prevention mechanisms, including the implementation of DepEd’s Child Protection Policy, functional Child Protection Committees and confidential reporting channels for bullying, cyberbullying, threats, weapon access and concerning behavioral changes.

It also cautioned against requiring schools to publicly post documentation of drills on social media when doing so could identify children or expose security-sensitive information.

“The clearest measure of success is whether children learned what to do while their physical and psychological well-being remained protected,” the group said.