A school shooting in the southern Philippines left two students dead, with the Grade 9 shooter also dead after taking his own life.

Local disaster officials said the victims, a male and female student, were both in Grade Nine. At least three other people were reportedly injured and taken to a local hospital for treatment.

South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo said the shooter was a classmate of the victims and acted alone, using a nine-millimetre handgun.

Banga Mayor Albert Palencia said the student allegedly took the weapon from a home safe and had told two friends about his plan shortly before the attack.

The shooting is the third deadly school attack reported in the Philippines since June and occurred exactly one month after another student in Mindanao livestreamed the killing of a schoolmate before taking his own life.

The latest incident comes despite recent efforts to strengthen school security, including live shooter drills conducted across the country.