Philippines sets P500 million to hire more school security guards

The Philippines' Department of Education (DepEd) will use P500 million in the national budget bill to hire more school security guards, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said on Nov. 7, The Manila Times reported. The money goes first to schools with higher risk profiles.

Key points#

• Angara said P500 million was added to the General Appropriations Bill for hiring security guards, The Manila Times reported.
• DepEd will put large schools in urban areas first, according to The Manila Times.
• In June, Angara said only around 200 plantilla security guard positions remained for about 48,000 schools, GMA News reported.
• He said DepEd would ask the budget department to create more security guard positions, according to GMA News.

Why schools want more guards#

Angara first raised the need for guard funding after a June 22 shooting at a high school in Tacloban City, GMA News reported. He said some of the roughly 48,000 schools need more than one guard, and that DepEd was running safety audits in schools.

Angara spoke about the new money at a Nov. 6 forum on preventing violent extremism in schools, The Manila Times reported. He said safety drills are being repeated in schools nationwide.

The gap between the request and the money#

With around 200 plantilla positions for about 48,000 schools, as GMA News reported, the P500 million cannot cover every school. That is why the department ranks schools by risk.

The money sits in the General Appropriations Bill, The Manila Times reported. Neither report says whether the guards will be hired directly or through security agencies.

What it means for your company#

• Public money follows risk. When a budget is smaller than the need, agencies rank sites by risk. Expect bids to ask how you would cover the highest-risk sites first.
• Know your cost per post. A budget line and a head count give buyers a target cost. Know your own cost per post before you write a proposal.
• Staffing is the bottleneck. A large school award means many posts at once. Plan recruiting and scheduling before you bid.
• School work needs clear rules. Post orders for schools cover drills, visitors and student contact. Check local law with an attorney or the licensing agency.

Guardix is software for security companies that keeps scheduling, hiring and proposals in one place.

Frequently asked questions#

How much will DepEd spend on school security guards?#

Angara said P500 million was added to the General Appropriations Bill for hiring security guards, The Manila Times reported.

Which schools get guards first?#

Angara said DepEd will put schools with higher risk profiles first, particularly large schools in urban areas, The Manila Times reported.

Sources#

• The Manila Times: DepEd to hire more school security guards, November 8, 2026
• GMA News: DepEd to seek funds for more security guards in public schools, June 29, 2026