AJHS conducts emergency preparedness drill to strengthen campus safety and readiness

On 7 January 2026, from 1:05 to 2:37 p.m., the Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS), together with the Basic Education community and in coordination with the Campus Safety and Mobility Office, conducted an emergency preparedness drill to strengthen campus safety and emergency readiness.

The activity, which included a campus shutdown component, began with a shelter-in-place drill. During this phase, students remained inside their classrooms in response to a simulated imminent threat. This was immediately followed by an earthquake drill, during which students practiced the proper Drop, Cover, and Hold procedure before evacuating their classrooms in an orderly manner. Students, faculty, staff, as well as parents and guardians were then directed to the designated Evacuation Assembly Areas (EAAs) along the AJHS driveways and car parks, where standard initial checks and headcount reporting were conducted.

After the headcount was finalized, the school implemented the campus shutdown scenario, in which students practiced procedures requiring them to vacate the campus entirely. Instead of returning to their classrooms, some students were picked up by parents, guardians, or transport services, while others walked to the Ateneo Grade School to fetch younger siblings or were permitted to leave the campus to meet their parents in pre-arranged areas or commute home.

In general, the drill was implemented smoothly, with a few challenges observed. Throughout the activity, faculty members, staff, and security personnel remained on standby to guide students to their designated EAAs and Emergency Pick up Points (EPP) and to manage campus traffic.

Overall, the emergency preparedness drill effectively tested the community’s readiness to respond to emergency situations and underscored the importance of discipline, coordination, and cooperation. More importantly, it served as a meaningful learning experience that reinforced AJHS’s commitment to safeguarding the safety and well-being of its entire community.