THE Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is fully prepared to ensure the peace and order during the opening of classes for the School Year 2025-2026 on Monday, June 16, 2025.
In a statement Sunday, June 15, the PNP said a total of 37,740 police personnel will be deployed across the country to ensure the safety and welfare of learners and teachers in 45,974 public and private schools.
To bolster police visibility and support on the ground, the PNP will establish 5,079 Police Assistance Desks (PADs) near school premises.
A total of 10,759 police personnel tasked to assist students, parents, and school staff will be assigned to man the PADs, while 10,687 officers will be assigned to mobile patrols and 16,366 to foot patrols, ensuring heightened police visibility in high-density areas and identified critical zones.
Among regional units, the Central Visayas Regional Police Office has the highest deployment with 7,366 personnel, followed by Bicol Region with 2,962, Eastern Visayas with 2,376, and the National Capital Region Police Office with 4,323 cops.
In Mindanao, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Police will deploy 2,898 personnel across 657 schools.
PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said they are also in full coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), local government units, and other partner agencies to ensure the smooth opening of classes.
“The safety of our students, teachers, and school staff remains our utmost priority. We want to ensure that our children return to school without fear or harm. Our police officers will be in every possible area to provide protection, guidance, and support. Oplan Balik-Eskwela is not just a deployment plan; it is our expression of commitment to nurture an environment where learning can thrive peacefully. We will continue to stand guard for the Filipino youth, rain or shine,” said Torre.
As part of pre-opening preparations, PNP personnel actively joined Brigada Eskwela 2025, assisting in the cleaning, repair, and repainting of classrooms and school grounds.
The PNP noted that the Balik-Eskwela preparatory phase across all regions has been generally peaceful and incident-free.
In line with ongoing security concerns, the PNP issued a stern warning against drug peddlers and groups attempting to recruit students into militant organizations.
Torre assured that these threats will be dealt with swiftly and without compromise.
The PNP called on the public to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious activity or safety concerns to the nearest police station or via the PNP’s 24/7 hotlines, as part of its shared responsibility to ensure a safe and smooth school opening. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)