THE UNIVERSITY is set to review and strengthen campus safety protocols following recent incidents of violence in schools, with proposed initiatives including expanded safety drills, UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., told the Varsitarian.
According to Ang, the drills would cover not only natural disasters but also possible threats that could endanger students, faculty members, and the wider Thomasian community.
“Once there is a threat, if there is an activity which would threaten the student body or even the community, there should be a safety drill about such situations,” Ang said.
“It’s not just about earthquakes, it’s not just about fire, but it would definitely include safety drills. Once there is a threat to students, if there is an activity that could threaten the student body or even the community, there should be a safety drill about such situations. There should also be people knowledgeable on what to do if something like that happens,” he added.
Ang said a subcommittee on campus security and safety had begun discussions on measures to tighten security protocols.
Assoc. Prof. Juliano Parena, director of the Campus Safety and Security Office (CSSO), said UST follows “an all-hazards approach to campus safety” and had developed the updated “Active Threat Response Guidelines,” a framework for responding to security incidents involving violence or imminent threats.
“This means that our preparedness efforts are designed to address a wide range of emergencies, whether they are natural, accidental, medical, or human-caused,” Parena told the Varsitarian.
“Thomasians may also expect additional safety guidelines, awareness campaigns, training programs, and emergency exercises in the coming academic year as part of our ongoing commitment to campus safety,” he added.
Parena said the CSSO had been conducting random bag inspections, using handheld metal detectors at selected gates, and enforcing mandatory ID tapping, a measure in place since October 2025.
“These measures are intended to deter prohibited items from entering the campus while maintaining a safe and welcoming learning environment,” he said.
Parena added that the University was in contact with local authorities such as Barangay 465, the Manila Police District, and police units assigned to the University Belt in case of emergencies.
“The CSSO regularly reviews emergency plans, develops new operational guidelines, and conducts training programs and drills to prepare both responders and the University community for various emergency situations,” he said.
Parena encouraged Thomasians to practice the “If You See Something, Say Something” principle and remain vigilant.
“The simple act of reporting suspicious activity can significantly contribute to preventing incidents before they escalate,” he said.
The review comes amid heightened concerns over school security following the shooting incident at a school in Tacloban City that killed three students and injured several minors.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno issued on June 24 an executive order forming the Manila School and Community Safety Task Force, which seeks to strengthen school-based and public safety measures in the city by directing concerned offices to enhance efforts to prevent and respond to mass-casualty incidents.
The task force seeks to prevent and respond to “armed violence and mass-casualty incidents in schools and public spaces.”
Ang said the University recognizes the challenges of ensuring security in a large campus community with more than 40,000 students enrolled.
“It is part of our concern, siyempre lalo na maraming mga pangyayari recently, lalo na sa UST, malaki ang ating community,” he said. With reports from Amador Denzel M. Teston and Micah G. Pascua
