CLOSE to 6,000 police and force multipliers will be deployed by the Police Regional Office (PRO) Cordillera in the six provinces and two cities in the region to provide security for students with the opening of classes on June 3.
In the weekly Kapihan sa Baguio, PRO Cordillera Director Israel Ephraim Dickson said they will deploy 5,100 personnel composed of 3,700 policemen and 1,300 force multipliers consisting of barangay tanods, civilian volunteers, members of Parents Teachers Association and communications groups to ensure safety and orderly opening of classes.
Dickson also acknowledged the need of other stakeholders, particularly the parents and teachers.
"Since the parents and teachers are on the ground, they are the ones who can identify the specific areas within the school where police presence are needed. This is to prevent the presence of drugs and bullying by out-of-school youths which have been the problem of students going back to school, and all identified areas needing police presence," Dickson added.
Aside from police officers, K-9 units will also be assigned to check for the presence of possible explosives and drugs, aside from the presence of the highway patrol operatives who will maintain traffic in major school thoroughfares.
In Baguio City, which is considered the educational center in the region, some 100 members of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) have been directed by acting city director Police Colonel Allen Rae Co to be deployed in various educational institutions in the city.
"Aside from the deployment of 100 police personnel in the different educational establishments in the city, we will also have others who would manage the traffic situation come the opening of school on June 3. This is aside from the establishment of police assistance desks in the schools which would help students, parents or their guardians on opening day," Co said.
Based on the 2019-2020 records of the Department of Education (DepEd) Cordillera, 430,680 students are projected to go back to school on June 3 with 110,096 students for Baguio City.
DepEd Cordillera also said it expected the number to increase due to late enrollees.
But the regional education department assured that everything is ready for this year's opening of classes in the region.