A recent opinion piece published by the Mindanao Gold Star has put a spotlight on the alarming state of school safety across the region, with Cagayan de Oro’s educational institutions squarely in the conversation. Titled “June’s Bloodstained Classrooms,” the article examines a disturbing pattern of violence affecting schools in Mindanao and calls for urgent action from both local and national authorities.
A Region on Edge
The commentary comes in the wake of several high-profile school violence incidents that have shaken communities across the Philippines, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. For Cagayan de Oro — a city home to some of Northern Mindanao’s most prominent universities and colleges — the implications are deeply personal.
Xavier University, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP), Bukidnon State University’s CDO campus, and dozens of other institutions serve tens of thousands of students in the city. Parents, teachers, and school administrators are now grappling with difficult questions about campus security, student mental health, and the adequacy of existing safety protocols.
DepEd and Lawmakers Respond
The Department of Education (DepEd) in Region X has moved to bolster security measures across schools in Northern Mindanao. Initiatives include enhanced coordination with local police, improved perimeter security, and the deployment of additional guidance counselors to help identify and support at-risk students before situations escalate.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Congress have begun discussing legislative responses. Senator Pangilinan and the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) have emphasized that children aged 15 and above may be held accountable under the law following school shooting incidents — a statement that has sparked debate about the balance between accountability and the broader systemic failures that contribute to youth violence.
Community and Parental Concern
For Cagayan de Oro parents like Maricel, a mother of two high school students, the issue hits close to home. “We send our children to school trusting they’ll be safe,” she shared during a recent parent-teacher association meeting at a local school. “These incidents make us question everything — from campus security to how we talk to our kids about conflict.”
Local parent-teacher associations across CDO have begun organizing safety forums, inviting police officers and mental health professionals to speak with families. Schools are also revisiting their crisis response plans, conducting lockdown drills, and investing in better security infrastructure such as CCTV cameras and secured entry points.
A Call for Holistic Solutions
Experts argue that while physical security measures are necessary, they are not sufficient. Dr. Elena Tan, a psychologist specializing in adolescent behavior at a CDO-based university, points to the need for comprehensive mental health support systems in schools. “We need more guards at the gates, yes — but we also need more counselors in the classrooms,” she explained. “Violence is a symptom. We have to address the root causes: poverty, trauma, lack of opportunity, and social isolation.”
The Mindanao Gold Star article echoes this sentiment, calling on local government units, school administrators, parents, and community leaders to work together in creating a culture of safety and support for the region’s youth.
Moving Forward
As Cagayan de Oro continues to grow as an educational hub in Northern Mindanao, the conversation around school safety is likely to intensify. For now, the collective response — from DepEd’s security upgrades to community-led mental health initiatives — offers a glimmer of hope that the city’s classrooms can remain spaces of learning and growth, rather than fear.
Residents are encouraged to participate in school safety forums and to report concerns to their local school administration or the DepEd Regional Office in Cagayan de Oro.