Parañaque installs metal detectors in public schools to improve security

• IN PHOTO: Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez leads the launching of walkthrough metal detectors at the Parañaque National High School (PNHS) main campus in Brgy. San Dionisio on Friday. Mayor Olivarez was joined by PNHS principal Dr. Eduardo Taguiam, Brgy. San Dionisio Chairwoman Eva Olivarez, and other school officials. The metal detectors form part of a comprehensive security measure ordered by Mayor Olivarez to ensure the safety of students and teachers amid incidents of stabbing and active shooting in schools in different parts of the country.

Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez on Friday formally launched the use of walkthrough metal detectors in public schools in Parañaque City to ensure students’ safety, amid incidents of active shooting and stabbing in schools in different parts of the country.

“Itong walkthrough metal detectors ay para i-augment ang security measures na ipinapatupad ng ating mga eskwelahan at Civilian Security Unit sa iba’t ibang paaralan dito sa Parañaque. Kailangang masiguro natin na safe lagi ang mga bata,” Olivarez said as he led the launching ceremony at Don Bosco Elementary School in Brgy. Don Bosco on Friday.

Olivarez also led the launching of the walkthrough metal detector at the Parañaque National High School main campus in Brgy. San Dionisio later in the day.

Earlier, the City Government installed closed-circuit television cameras at school grounds and deployed members of the Civil Security Unit at different campuses to implement security measures along with school security guards and officials.

He said that the walkthrough metal detectors were deployed to public schools across the city starting last week.

“Ang 97,797 na bilang ng ating mga mag-aaral sa Parañque ay hindi lamang basta-basta numero. Sila po ay may mga pangarap, mga kinabukasan, at mga buhay na dapat nating pangalagaan. Kaya’t napakahalaga para po sa ating Lungsod na mapaigting ang seguridad ng ating mga eskwelahan,” Olivarez stressed.

A total of 16 walkthrough metal detectors, also known as full body scanners, have so far been installed in different high schools in the city.

Three (3) metal detectors were installed at Parañaque National High School Main, while one each at Don Bosco High School, PNHS Senior High School, Moonwalk National High School, Sun Valley National High School, Dr. Arcadio Santos National High School, Masville National High School, Masville Senior High School, Parañaque Science High School, Tambo National High School, Marcelo Green National High School, Don Galo National High School, Sto. Niño National High School, at San Antonio National High School.

The next batch of scanners — two for high schools and seven for elementary schools – will be installed between October and November, said Dolly Villar, head of the Parañaque Local School Board.

The city mayor said that their target is to have all 45 public elementary and high school campuses employing scanners by next year.

Olivarez called on private high school and elementary schools to also install walkthrough metal detectors at their campuses.

“Ang gusto po natin ay pati mga private school po ay may ganito, kasi ang mga nangyaring insidente ay hindi lang limited sa public schools. We can’t leave gaps pagdating sa safety ng mga bata,” he said.