BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan advised the Baguio City Police Office to intensify visibility for the opening of classes next month.
In the weekly “Ugnayang Panglungsod,” Domogan specified the importance of police presence in areas where possible crimes may be committed against students.
"We have to continue to do what we have been doing during the opening of classes; policemen should be strategically posted in areas where students are being victimized by pickpockets and other crimes,” he said.
In the 2017-2018 opening of classes, the regional Education Department recorded 339,340 students who registered their intention to go to school with a total of 221,891 students from the elementary level and 117,449 in the secondary level both in public and private schools.
The Department of Education (DepEd) Division of City Schools announced the opening of classes in all public schools in the city for school year 2018-2019 will be on June 4, pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations relative to the simultaneous opening of classes in the country.
"Our coding system for vehicles ferrying students to schools starting from 6am to 9am will be exempted or will have a window time including workers for them not to be late in schools and the workplace," he said.
Domogan advised the presence of police personnel and traffic enforcers in traffic prone areas in the city to manage the expected influx of vehicles during opening day.
"The traffic in choke points identified by our traffic division in the City will have to be manned by our traffic enforcers to mitigate the inconveniences of the public like our children going to schools," he said.
The Chief Executive would welcome any measures by the Police Regional Office Cordillera to assist in the peace and order situation and traffic management during the opening of classes.
"Of course there is a need for additional personnel but in the meantime, we have to utilize the present manpower of our Policemen. Hopefully General Carranza would see our situation and provide for augmentation coming from PROCOR in certain periods during the opening of classes if ever it would be needed depending on the recommendation of BCPO,” he said.
Meanwhile City Schools Division superintendent Federico Martin urged all enrollees in the elementary and secondary levels in the different schools around the city to report to school first day of school as regular classes begin.
Martin also urged the cooperation of stakeholders in the conduct of the Brigada Eskwela scheduled on May 28 to June 1 to guarantee all the schools are ready for the opening of classes a week later.