Baguio: Baguio police are urging schools to install dedicated emergency sirens or bells to alert students and personnel when they need to immediately activate safety protocols. Baguio City Police Office Director Col. Ruel Tagel emphasized that a distinct alarm would help prevent confusion with the bells and sirens routinely used to signal class periods and breaks.

According to Philippines News Agency, Tagel made the recommendation during the first aggressive-behavior and safety drill at Baguio City National High School, the city's largest public high school with about 3,000 students. He suggested that this drill could serve as a model for other schools. Tagel stressed the need for closer communication between school authorities and police, including through the city's 911 emergency hotline, to speed up responses.

The Baguio police also deploy uniformed personnel near schools to help protect students, including from possible bullying outside school premises. Barangay watchmen are deployed near schools before classes, during lunch breaks, and after dismissal under a city government directive.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong, in a separate interview, said realistic drills are intended to prepare students and school personnel for emergencies while helping reduce the risk of trauma. During the BCNHS drill, participants were exposed to simulated gunfire and loud banging on doors, which Magalong noted are more effective than tabletop exercises. These simulations allow schools to identify gaps and adjust their emergency plans based on actual observations.

Magalong emphasized that the drills should clarify the roles of teachers, parents, and students in responding to emergencies, with the goal of minimizing trauma and casualties. Baguio has 68 public schools, and Magalong noted that conducting drills simultaneously at all schools would take time. Response teams will be formed, and schools will be prioritized based on their risk and potential for violence.

"We just want our children to be safe," Magalong stated.