DAVAO CITY–It’s all systems go for Police Regional Office 11 (Davao region) as public elementary and high schools open on Monday for the start of the new academic year.
Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, PRO-11 spokesperson, said on Sunday the police is closely coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) 11 and other national and local government agencies to ensure the safety of public school learners.
Driz said two police officers would be deployed to each public school.
Police presence has been felt since their participation in Brigada Eskwela, not only in securing the schools but in preparing classrooms as well, done through the Police Community Relations, she said.
Police Assistance Desks (PADS) have also been established in all school campuses and clustered schools nationwide to provide public safety and security coverage, and to provide EOD K9s to conduct checks in school vicinities.
Police visibility will be intensified along major routes leading to all learning institutions and within the immediate vicinity of schools to prevent cases of bullying and “budol-budol”.
“All units of PRO-11 in coordination with the LGUs (local government units) shall strictly implement the prohibition of overloading of buses jeeps and other public utility vehicles to avoid accidents and other similar incidents,” Driz said.
The police, she said, will assist LGUs in the strict implementation of zoning ordinances prohibiting the presence of computer shops, billiard halls, and other distractive gaming and recreational facilities within the immediate vicinity of schools.
Driz reminded students to be wary of strangers and to refrain from talking to them, and to avoid wearing expensive jewelry, bringing large amounts of money, and using expensive phones while on the street.
“We encourage everyone to report any incident of bullying and other street crimes to police officers assigned in your respective PADs and to the nearest police stations and their Hotline numbers or to the National Emergency Hotline numbers 911,” Driz said. (Armando Fenequito, Jr./PNA)
