Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Metro Manila
Mayor Isko forms Manila school safety task force vs gun threats
Philippines
Metro Manila
Mayor Isko forms Manila school safety task force vs gun threats
Mayor Isko forms Manila school safety task force vs gun threats
Published Jun 24, 2026 08:19 pm
Citing the need for urgent preventive action, Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso has ordered the creation of a multi-agency task force aimed at stopping gun violence and mass-casualty incidents in schools across the city.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso delivers his State of the City Address at the Quirino Grandstand on June 24, 2026, outlining key policies and initiatives as the capital marks its 455th founding anniversary.
He made the announcement during the delivery of his State of the City Address at the Quirino Grandstand on June 24.
Officially titled the “Manila Schools Safety Initiative,” the order creates the Manila School and Community Safety Task Force, a multi-agency body tasked with preventing armed threats, strengthening school preparedness, and improving emergency response systems across the capital.
“Our policy is simple: Remove illegal guns. Act on every warning sign. Prepare every school. Manila will not wait for a tragedy before taking action,” Domagoso said during his State of the City Address on June 24, when the order was signed and took effect.
The initiative adopts a prevention-first approach anchored on three key principles: eliminating illegal firearms and armed threats, acting on credible warning signs of violence, and ensuring that schools and communities are equipped to respond to emergencies.
The task force will be chaired by the mayor or city administrator and will include key agencies such as the Manila Police District, the Schools Division Office of Manila, the Manila Department of Social Welfare, the Manila Health Department, and the Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department.
Also part of the body are the Liga ng mga Barangay president, City Legal Officer, City Public Information Officer, Chief of Staff, and representatives from private schools, parent groups, and youth organizations.
According to the order, the task force will serve as the city’s central coordinating body for violence prevention, threat assessment, school safety, and emergency preparedness. It is also mandated to monitor emerging threats against schools, public gatherings, and critical facilities, and submit quarterly reports to the Office of the Mayor.
Under the directive, the Manila Police District is ordered to intensify operations against loose firearms, illegal gun trafficking, and armed criminal groups.
It will also establish a Threat Monitoring and Assessment Desk and designate a School and Youth Safety Coordinator to ensure direct coordination with schools and barangays.
The order further requires the police to maintain communication channels with school clusters and local communities, and to submit monthly reports detailing enforcement actions and preventive measures.
Meanwhile, the Schools Division Office of Manila is directed to organize School Safety and Threat Assessment Teams in every district, implement standardized reporting protocols for threats and weapons possession, and strengthen counseling and behavioral intervention programs.
Each public school must also designate a School Safety Focal Person and conduct at least two emergency preparedness exercises and one lockdown drill per academic year.
A joint School Safety Audit by the police and DepEd Manila is also mandated within 90 days, covering physical security, access control, evacuation routes, communication systems, and existing response plans.
Recommendations from the audit will be submitted to the mayor for immediate action.
Barangays are likewise instructed to support the initiative by promoting responsible reporting of threats and illegal firearms, and by coordinating closely with school authorities and law enforcement.
The order sets a 180-day timeline for full implementation, including updated emergency response plans in all public schools, operational threat assessment teams across districts, designated school safety coordinators in barangays, and a fully functioning threat monitoring system within the police force.
City officials said the measure underscores Manila’s shift toward proactive governance, prioritizing prevention and preparedness to safeguard students, educators, and communities.