08/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE
RCSU 8, Baybay CPS, LGU Baybay City, and Partner Government Agencies Unite to Strengthen School Security; 72 Guards and Watchmen Trained to Protect Learners
PALO, LEYTE β August 8, 2026. β Recognizing school security personnel as the first line of defense in keeping schools safe, the Baybay City Government, in coordination with the Baybay City Police Station, conducted a Skills Enhancement Seminar for School Security Guards and Watchmen aimed at strengthening their readiness to prevent, detect, and appropriately respond to security threats within school premises.
Held at the Baybay City Training Center Function Hall,
The seminar brought together seventy-two (72) school watchmen and security guards from various schools in Baybay City.
The activity, initiated by the Local Government Unit of Baybay City headed by Mayor Jose Carlos L. Cari, underscored the importance of strengthening the preparedness, vigilance, and professional capabilities of security personnel amid the continuing need to ensure safe and secure learning environments.
As one of the resource speakers, PCOL SOLEDAD L. ELEFANIO, Chief of the Regional Civil Security Unit 8 (RCSU 8), delivered a lecture on βSchool Security Fundamentals: Strengthening School Security and Safety.β Her presentation emphasized that school security guards are not merely gatekeepers, but serve as safety officers, security observers, first responders, information sources, public relations officers, and crime prevention partners.
PCOL ELEFANIO highlighted the responsibilities of school security personnel under Republic Act No. 11917 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, which recognize private security professionals as partners of government in preserving peace and order. The law covers critical security functions such as protection of persons and property, access control, visitor screening, maintenance of peace and order, security investigation, and emergency response.
The lecture also focused on practical security measures, including strict access control, proper visitor identification and screening, campus patrolling, threat detection, incident response, and coordination with police and emergency responders. Security guards were reminded to secure entry and exit points, prevent unauthorized entry, protect students and school personnel, observe and report suspicious activities, and maintain professionalism at all times.
βSecurity is everyone's responsibility, but security guards are the first line of defense,β
PCOL ELEFANIO emphasized, underscoring the vital role of security personnel in protecting not only school facilities but, more importantly, the lives and safety of learners, teachers, employees, and visitors.
The seminar further tackled the recognition of physical and behavioral threat indicators, including suspicious packages, armed individuals, bomb threats, fire, gas leaks, aggressive behavior, and other circumstances requiring heightened vigilance. Participants were likewise reminded to remain calm during emergencies, assess situations properly, prioritize the protection of lives, and immediately coordinate with appropriate authorities.
Other sessions in the program covered Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) and CAR protocols, bomb threat and scare management, radio discipline and reporting, safe campus and gender-based laws, and responder protocols and practical exercises, providing participants with a broader understanding of school safety and emergency preparedness.
The activity reinforced the shared responsibility of the LGU, PNP, schools, and private security sector in preventing incidents of violence and maintaining a secure learning environment.
PCOL ELEFANIO stressed that effective school security is not measured merely by the response to incidents, but by the ability to prevent threats before they escalate. The seminar's key message was clear: a competent school security guard prevents crime, protects children, detects threats early, responds professionally, coordinates with authorities, respects human rights, and upholds the law.
The initiative reflects the continuing commitment of the PNP Regional Civil Security Unit 8 and the Baybay City Government to strengthen community-based security partnerships and ensure that schools remain places where children can learn, grow, and thrive without fear.
βSECURE THE SCHOOL. PROTECT THE CHILDREN. PREVENT THE THREAT.β
