Kidapawan public schools get walk-through metal detectors

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato Province — The Kidapawan City government has provided an initial 10 walk-through metal detectors to some of the largest public schools to bolster campus security for students and faculty.

Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista turned over the security equipment during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony held at the city gymnasium.

Miguel Filalan, Kidapawan City Schools Division superintendent, personally received the walk-through metal detectors from the city government.

READ: Some Cotabato schools suspend F2F classes due to security threat

Authorities will install the units at the Kidapawan City National High School, Saniel-Cruz National High School, and Kidapawan City Pilot Elementary School.

The city government will cover the installation costs for the metal detectors, which could further help ensure the safety of learners and school personnel on campus.

“We want to ensure the safety of our students so they can attend school with confidence and parents will not worry about their children while inside the school premises,” Evangelista said.

The city government appealed to school officials and learners to take good care of the security equipment purchased using taxpayers’ money.

Aside from the walk-through metal detectors, the largest public schools will get closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) and two-way radios.

Evangelista said the surveillance system and communication equipment aim to improve real-time campus monitoring and accelerate emergency response times.

After high-density public schools, campuses with smaller populations will be given similar security equipment./coa