Police ready for school opening

CEBU, Philippines - The police have assured the public that Cebu City will have a peaceful, safe and orderly opening of classes next week.

"Cebu City will have a peaceful and orderly opening of classes on June 2017.  The police station chiefs were also required to coordinate with school superintendents, as well as utilize force multipliers and barangay tanods," said Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Joel Doria.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd)-7 is also set to establish a systematic public assistance station from the regional level down to schools, complementing the nationwide information action center.

Doria said he has ordered all police station chiefs to identify possible problems that may occur when the students and pupils arrive in their respective schools and universities.

With the coordination of school and barangay officials, Doria expects that the station commanders will present their plans under CCPO's program "Oplan Balik Eskwela" before this year classes commence.

Establishments of help desks, traffic control and other anti-criminality operations are included under CCPO's Oplan Balik Eskwela.

CCPO is also considering the preparations for the rainy season after the resumption of classes, according to the police chief.

Doria said CCPO and its eleven police stations will deploy police personnel "in full force" for the opening of classes and will tighten their security measures after PNP Camp Crame declared full-alert status.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Noli Taliño has recently placed Central Visayas on heightened alert in relation to the clashes of the terrorist Maute Group and government troops in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

Doria, however, urged the public, especially parents and students, to report to them and call their hotline numbers for immediate response.

He added that public may dial the CCPO hotline numbers 166 or 233 6975 on their landline telephones, or call 0906-390-3402 or 0998-598-6273 for mobile phones.

Meanwhile, DepEd-7 Public Relations Officer Amaryllis Rodriguez-Villarmia told The FREEMAN that the agency’s head office has instructed the regional offices to create a special committee for this year’s Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) to start today until June 16.

DepEd-7 Assistant Regional Director Atty. Fiel Almendra heads the regional committee.

“We just had the Regional OBE Orientation for the Division Offices last May 25, 2017. The said orientation provides discussion and dissemination on the launching and components of the 2017 OBE Public Action Center,” she said.

Villarmia said the regional action center will be put up at DepEd-7 office in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City while the 13 school divisions across the region will also have their own in their respective offices.

She added the regional action center will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for three weeks, starting today.

This way, a team can respond to queries and concerns from the general public making sure pupils are enrolled properly and will attend school by the first day of class, she explained.

DepEd announced earlier that school year 2017-2018 opens formally next week, June 5.

She said other partner agencies like the Philippine National Police, the Department of Health and other government offices will also be holding their own operations to assist in maintaining safety and security within schools premises.

Bianito Dagatan, DepEd Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent, said school heads were already briefed in forming their own counterpart of an OBE committee and on the task of putting up an information and action center.

“It will assist students or parents where they can relay some of their concerns.  At the same time, the OBE action officers will facilitate coordination with relevant stakeholders for school opening preparations and activities,” Dagatan said in a separate interview.

Greater concerns may be forwarded to school division offices and if still cannot be addressed on their level, it may be elevated to the regional office or even at the national office, he said.

The DepEd Cebu City division consists of at least 68 elementary schools and 54 secondary schools. —/GAN (FREEMAN)