School safety and the protection of children against violence and other threats emerged as some of the key priorities for the second semester of 2026 during a high-level government security dialogue on Friday.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presided over the Joint National and Regional Peace and Order Council (NPOC-RPOC) meeting, which discussed measures and security challenges confronting the country.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the chief executive directed relevant government offices and local governments to tighten school security, establish clear protocols for reporting and responding to incidents of bullying, violence and emergencies.

He also instructed stakeholders to safeguard children against harmful online content.

The PCO said the meeting emphasized the importance of increasing police visibility, accelerating emergency response and improving public safety services.

Based on the latest PCO data, the Unified 911 recorded over 12 million calls from January to September concerning police matters, medical services, fires, violence against women and children, and search and rescue operations.

The dialogue is a mechanism allowing national and regional agencies to discuss measures to protect communities through stronger coordination. (PNA)