MORE than 400,000 pupils and students from public schools in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are expected to attend the first day of class today.
Expect heavy traffic in major thoroughfares in the city especially during rush hours.
But don’t fret. Local authorities will deploy forces to ease traffic and secure the pupils and students who will troop to the schools.
Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, public information officer of Bacolod City Police Office, said two personnel will be assigned in each police assistance desks that will be placed in every school in the city.
Vargas said police officers will be deployed on the streets and the schools as early as 6 a.m.
Policemen will also augment traffic enforcers to address congestion and choke points at the opening day.
In the province, policemen will also be deployed to various schools to provide security and maintain peace and order, said Inspector Charmae De Paz, public information officer of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said personnel from police stations all over the province will also be deployed to schools to provide security and maintain peace and order.
Expect these security forces will be augmented by the local government unit’s peace action teams and barangay tanods.
They will closely monitor elements who may take advantage of the students.
Pupils and the students are reminded to always stay alert and be vigilant of their surroundings to avoid being targeted by the criminal elements.
With this, the provincial police will also resume the conduct of symposiums about crime prevention, dangers of illegal drugs, and other laws to educate the students.