The Department of Education said that everything is in place for the return of around 27 million students to schools today, June 16.
“All systems go po ang lahat sa pagbubukas ng ating klase bukas (All systems go, everything for the opening of our classes June 16,” DepEd Media Relations chief Dennis Legaspi said in a Viber message to reporters.
Legaspi said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be accompanied by DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara in visiting Epifanio delos Santos Elementary School in Manila.
Angara will also visit the Tenement Elementary School in Taguig, and one school each in Biñan and City of Santa Rosa, both in Laguna provinces.
Under Angara’s watch, the DepEd has reverted to the original June to March school calendar, in line with Marcos’ directive to prevent learning loss due to successive missed school days caused by various weather disturbances.
The DepEd has delivered 33,539 laptops for teachers and 5,360 for non-teaching staff under the computerization program. It also purchased almost 26,000 smart TV packages with external hard drives to help improve learning delivery outcomes.
For textbook distribution, procurement for grades 1, 4, and 7 books is already at a 99 percent level; books for grades 2, 5, and 8 are nearly at a halfway mark; while procurement for the remaining grade levels will start next year, the DepEd said.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Nicolas Torre III, also assured that 37,740 cops will be deployed to secure both public and private schools under its “Oplan Balik-Eskwela (back to school)”.
Torre said 5,079 police assistance desks near school premises will have 10,759 officers to assist students, parents and staff.
He said that 10,687 officers will be assigned to mobile patrols, and 16,366 to foot patrols, ensuring heightened police visibility in high-density areas and identified critical zones.
“The safety of our students, teachers, and school staff remains our utmost priority. We want to ensure that our children return to school without fear or harm. Our police officers will be in every possible area to provide protection, guidance, and support,” Torre said in a press release.
He assured the public of the PNP’s readiness and full coordination with the DepEd, local government units, and other partner agencies.
He called on the public to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious activity or safety concerns to the nearest police station, or via the PNP’s 24/7 hotlines. | PNA
