Davao City Schools Address Safety, Bullying and Peaceful Conflict Resolution

DAVAO CITY — A classroom simulation on how to respond during a shooting incident was among the activities held at two Davao City high schools on September 25, alongside role-playing exercises on child protection and bullying prevention.

The activities took place at Pablo Lorenzo National High School in Barangay Mandug and F. Bustamante National High School in Barangay Tibungco. Organizers reported a total of 850 participants across the two schools.

The engagement was conducted under Project R.E.A.C.H., which stands for Resilient, Empowered Agents of Change and Harmony. Its activities covered both emergency preparedness and issues students may encounter in their everyday school lives, including bullying, personal choices and relationships with others.

The 27th Infantry Battalion led a 30-minute session on security awareness, which included the shooting-incident simulation and discussion of recruitment efforts targeting students by the CPP-NPA-NDF, according to the organizers.

DXFE Davao facilitated a 45-minute activity on values, choices, discernment and spirituality. The Davao City Youth Development Office led a 15-minute classroom role-playing activity on child protection and bullying prevention.

School heads Arvin P. Ventic of Pablo Lorenzo National High School and Welito I. Rosal of F. Bustamante National High School led the activities at their respective schools. Facilitators and representatives from the City Social Welfare and Development Office, Public Safety and Security Office, Department of Education and other city offices also took part.

The activities approached student safety from different directions: preparing for an emergency, addressing bullying and child protection, and considering how personal decisions affect others. The organizers described these as part of a broader effort to promote peaceful relationships in schools and communities.