PHOTO from @DepEd_PH
Education Secretary Armin Luistro spent the opening of classes Monday by welcoming students of schools on two islands in Davao Occidental.
Luistro was welcomed by about 200 students in Mabila Elementary School in Sarangani town where he led the flag-raising ceremony.
According to the Department of Education (DepEd), majority of students of the school were from B’laan and Sangil tribes.
In his speech, Luistro assured students and teachers that their welfare was not being overlooked by the national government.
“Kaya kami pumunta dito sa Mabila Elementary School para sabihin sa inyo na lagi namin kayong naaalala at hindi namin kayo nakakalimutan (We went here to Mabila Elementary School to tell you that we always remember you and that you are not forgotten),” Luistro said.
He also led the distribution of learner kits to students.
After visiting Mabila Elementary School, Luistro and his team proceeded to observe classes at the Angel Olarte Elementary School and the Alberto Olarte High School.
According to tweets from DepEd, Luisto even had to ride a habal-habal for 30 minutes to reach Guillerma Olarte Primary School on the same island.
Luistro is said to visit 18 schools in the Balut and Sarangani Islands in Sarangani town.
DepEd said that 46,524 schools nationwide were prepared to accommodate the 23 million students returning to school this year.
In the National Capital Region, Malacañang said 800 traffic personnel would be deployed by the Metro Manila Development Authority to ensure the safety of students. The Philippine National Police has been tasked to monitor the security of students nationwide.