23,000 cops to be deployed nationwide for school reopening

FILE PHOTO Students and teachers at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City conduct a dry run of face-to-face class in this photo taken on February 8, 2022, to familiarize the students with the new rules in the conduct of classroom learning in the time of the pandemic. 
INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy around 23,000 personnel nationwide for the resumption of in-person or face-to-face classes in schools nationwide starting next week.

PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said it would send police personnel near schools and assistance desks.

“We’ll be deploying more or less 23,000-plus PNP personnel na ipapakalat natin yan nationwide particularly dyan sa mga premises ng eskwelahan at kasama na rin dyan yung mga pulis na ilalagay natin sa ating mga established na police assistance desk,” Fajardo said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(We’ll be deploying more or less 23,000 plus PNP personnel nationwide, particularly on the premises of schools and established police assistance desks.)

“‘Yung ating mga estudyante, yung mga magulang ay kung may mga security concern ay madali nilang makakahingi ng tulong sa ating mga pulis,” she added.

(Students and parents with security concerns can quickly seek the help of our police force.)

Fajardo said that as early as July, they have coordinated with school administrators and government agencies.

Aside from schools, Fajardo said crowd build-up is also expected in transport hubs and terminals as some schools implement a complete face-to-face set-up.

“Para makasiguro tayo na mama-maintain at mao-observe pa rin ang ating minimum public health protocols ay maglalabas din tayo ng mga tauhan natin sa mga tinatawag nating PNP COVID-19 patrollers na siyang makikipag-ugnayan sa mga management ng mga establishment pati na rin eskwelahan to make sure na masusunod yung ating minimum public health standards and protocols,” Fajardo said.

(To ensure that we maintain and observe minimum public health protocols, we will deploy personnel who will serve as PNP COVID-19 patrollers who will coordinate with the management of establishments and schools to ensure compliance with minimum public health standards and protocols.)

The Department of Education earlier announced that classes for the school year 2022-2023 would resume on August 22.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said that while schools are transitioning to full in-person classes, they can implement combined face-to-face classes and distance learning from August until October 31.

By November 2, however, public and private schools all over the country must transition to five days of in-person classes.

RELATED STORIES:
DepEd orders all schools to shift to face-to-face classes by November 2

School opens August 22, Sara Duterte says

EDV/abc