The private sector can now actively support school safety initiatives through dedicated security packages under the Adopt-A-School Program (ASP) Caravan, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Tuesday.

This comes as the agency brought the 2026 ASP scale-up in Mindanao, with the inclusion of the new School Safety Package on the newly launched ASP digital platform microsite.

The expanded ASP coincides with DepEd and law enforcement agencies intensifying their efforts to uphold safety and security in schools in light of the recent school violence incidents in parts of the country.

In a statement, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said this partnership with the private sector will help address direct and on-the-ground needs.

“Our goal in expanding the Adopt-A-School Program is not just to provide supplies, but to ensure that our learners’ environment is safe and well-maintained,” he said.

Under the new security package, members of the private sector can fund priority safety projects in schools, like the procurement of perimeter fences, closed-circuit television camera systems, and metal detectors, as well as support for security personnel and public address systems.

Like other priority projects under the ASP, the school safety package will also allow corporate sponsors, civic groups, and private donors to enjoy direct access to tax incentive processes.

This initiative is in accordance with Republic Act No. 8525, also known as the Adopt-A-School Act of 1998, and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Regulations No. 13-2025, which provide tax incentives and deductions to private entities supporting education and training.

“We are moving from traditional charity to strategic investment,” Angara said.

Members of the private sector can also benefit from the streamlined system, with the ASP platform featuring transparent project matching and digital pledge tracking.

“By giving our partners a transparent, digitalized menu of programs, we are ensuring that every peso donated goes directly to where it can protect a child or empower a teacher,” Angara said.

On top of the school safety projects, the ASP Caravan also covers classroom construction and Senior High School work immersion programs.

This aligns with the menu of investment programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The broader education collaboration seeks to advance the DepEd’s Reform Agenda and the recommendations from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).

Besides these, private partners can also fund other ASP packages such as school facilities, teacher support, school feeding programs, and learning resources. (PNA)