By Joel E. Zurbano
The National Capital Region Police Office and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have assured the safety of students for the school year 2023-2024 in Metro Manila.
Both agencies have established 668 Public Assistance Desks (PADS) in several schools in Metro Manila, with 1,324 Mobile Patrolers and 1,436 Foot Patrolers for area monitoring.
“The NCRPO guarantees a safe and secure learning environment for all the learners, making it a safe haven to study not just on the first day of their class, but throughout the school year,” said Metro Manila police chief Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr.
“We make sure police officers are available and visible in or near the vicinity of our schools and campuses. A bunch of law enforcers from different units of NCRPO were already deployed to different learning institutions in the Metro to maintain peace and order in the region,” he added.
More than 5,000 uniformed police personnel from five police districts—Southern, Eastern, Northern, Manila, and Quezon City—have been deployed to 1,262 schools, including 713 public institutions and 549 private schools.
The NCRPO has conducted 733 meetings with school officials and intensified the Oplan Ligtas Balik Eskwela for the 2023-2024 school year.
Meanwhile, the MMDA isclosely coordinating with the Department of Education and local government units in Metro Manila for the establishment of One Stop-Shop Help Desks to ensure the safety and security of students, teachers, and parents.
The agency deployed traffic personnel to manage traffic in the vicinity of schools.
The MMDA and local enforcers also resumed their campaign to reclaim and clear public roads in the National Capital Region to alleviate road congestion with the return of face-to-face classes.
Last week, MMDA officials led by Chairman Romando Artes met with school administrators from Quezon City, Mandaluyong City, and San Juan City to discuss complaints and propose the deployment of traffic enforcers to regulate traffic flow in the affected areas.