Audit finds 43 of 81 Pagadian schools without CCTV; council weighs task force on bullying and abuse

The school-safety hearing came back to the 49th Regular Session with a fuller, starker picture. Forty-three of Pagadian’s 81 schools have no CCTV at all. One school in Lison Valley has no fence of any kind.

• Sitting49th Regular Session
• DateSeptember 9, 2026
• PresidingCoun. Obaob, then Vice Mayor To
• Quorum7 at roll call
• Resolutions adopted4
• Referred to committee2

The fuller audit

Teodora Ortiz of DepEd returned with a detailed breakdown. A week earlier she had counted 41 schools with operational CCTV and 61 fully fenced. This time she reported 38 with functional cameras and 33 with complete perimeter fences. The minutes record no explanation for the difference, which a follow-up should settle.

Who guards the gate varies widely. According to Ortiz, 32 schools pay security guards from their MOOE, 60 rely on hired watchmen and 16 get help from barangay tanods. Nine schools have tanods assigned without any written agreement. Under DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2026-037 on Safer School Zones, tanods are now being posted outside schools, though some schools are not yet aware of it. Ortiz said two to four tanods per school would be enough.

Councilor Joan Szanne S. Pulmones pushed back on relying on tanods: they can help manage pedestrian movement, but they are not equipped or trained like security guards. Ortiz blamed the gaps mainly on limited funds and said fencing money would be included in the budget every year.

Another obstacle surfaced. Only 16 school sites are titled to DepEd, five sit on land still privately titled, and 33 stand on land donated to the old DECS. Unclear ownership can stall fencing and building projects. Councilor Maphilindo Q. Obaob asked that both fencing support and lot ownership be weighed in the 2027 budget. Councilor Bienvenido C. Culve, chair of the education committee, assured him both would go to the Executive-Legislative Agenda and said he would seek a comprehensive report for the City School Board.

Bullying and abuse: a proposed task force

Richel P. Reducto of the Schools Division Office told the council that cases of abuse had been reported from some city schools and that the division had responded. He said a police presence in or around campuses would help keep students safe.

Councilor Ann Marjorie N. Revelo proposed a task force of DepEd, the Pagadian City Police Station and the City Social Welfare and Development Office. Its job would be to coordinate on bullying and sexual abuse and to shorten the long road to filing a complaint for abused children. The proposal went to the Committee on Women and Family Welfare and Children’s Affairs. The presiding officer also asked that DepEd be given copies of the city’s curfew ordinance and the Child Safety Act, and suggested counselling and PTA involvement.

No plates, no release

Buyers of new motorcycles and cars will want to follow this one. Resolution No. 2026-0533 asks the Mayor, with the LTO-Pagadian District Office, to issue a policy, if legally and administratively appropriate, requiring dealers not to release any brand-new motorcycle or vehicle without its plate number, Certificate of Registration and Official Receipt. It is a request, not an ordinance, and responds to a Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution on the same problem.

A lot already promised twice

Lot 2, Block 4 in Balintawak drew another letter. In August the council authorized revoking the land’s 2017 donation to the Department of Agrarian Reform (Res. No. 2026-0477) and then authorized donating it to GSIS (Res. No. 2026-0501). DAR’s regional OIC, Engr. Jena C. Salaug, has now written to appeal for reconsideration, saying the agency is working on measures to address its failure. Resolution No. 2026-0531 asks the Mayor, through the City Legal Officer, for an update on the status of the DAR deed.

Also on the floor

Two everyday complaints were parked for the Executive-Legislative Agenda: businesses blocking road right-of-way with “Reserve Parking” signs and work areas, and unchecked colorum tricycles. In Tiguma, the barangay captain’s complaint against the SK council was sent to the DILG (Res. No. 2026-0532). The floor leader pointed out that investigations of barangay and SK officials are suspended 90 days before an election. Members also pledged personal help for the Kumbati Zampen Cancer Support Group’s fourth anniversary.

Video stills: Sangguniang Panlungsod of Pagadian City, official recording of the 49th Regular Session, September 9, 2026.

Every decision on the record

Source: Official minutes of the 49th Regular Session of the 15th City Council, Sangguniang Panlungsod of Pagadian City, September 9, 2026. Figures, names and measure numbers are taken from the minutes as written. Photos: video stills from the official session recording of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Pagadian City.