‘Point of grievance’: Philippines urged to rethink school safety approach

‘Point of grievance’: Philippines urged to rethink school safety approach A new bill aims to establish a comprehensive safety framework, but experts say measures must target mitigating violence much earlier A bill pushed by lawmaker Bam Aquino will require schools to establish a comprehensive safety framework, including localised safety plans with guidelines on prevention, emergency response and recovery. The bill also includes establishing common standards for safety infrastructure, such as the use of surveillance cameras, mandatory screening and visitor management. Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, urged immediate approval of the bill as he invoked the names of students who died in the recent school attacks, warning that no more names must be added to the list. “We cannot accept that this will be part of a normal school life. We cannot wait for the next incident to happen before we act,” Aquino said on August 26.