Policemen from the Waterfront Police Station are deployed at the Tejero Elementary School in Cebu City, in this June 2009 file photo, Police are gearing up for the opening of classes on Monday.
Measures are in place to secure thousands of students trooping to schools when classes start on Monday, said Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief of staff of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7).
Policemen will be deployed in every school in Cebu City.
Police will also distribute flyers containing safety guidelines since crimes usually increase with the opening of classes, said Lawas in yesterday’s Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP).
Supt. Arnel Banzon, deputy city director for operations, said there will be 243 policemen who will secure the 114 schools in Cebu city.
The Cebu Provincial Police Office will be deploying 500 policemen for the opening of classes.
Station commanders and heads of the different special units under Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) were asked to put up Police Action Centers where the public could seek help in case of emergency.
The City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) will also be fielding more traffic enforcers in major thoroughfares to help ease possible traffic congestion on Monday.
Supt. Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch, said aside from schools, beat personnel will also be deployed in bus terminals, commercial establishments and crowded places in the city.
About 50 policemen will be deployed in 40 public and private schools in Mandaue City, said Supt. Julian Entoma, officer in charge of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO).
A police help desk manned by two policemen will also be put up in every school from 6 a.m. until the dismissal of classes, said Entoma.
Entoma said police will also coordinate with the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) for the deployment of traffic enforcers in busy streets where schools are located.
In Lapu-Lapu City, Senior Insp. Mercedarious Balabat said police help desks will also be put up in 61 different schools in the city including Olango Island.
Barangay tanods and traffic enforcers from the City Traffic Management Services (CTMS) will also be on hand to assist the police, said Balabat, deputy chief of operations of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO).
Around 140 police personnel will be mobilized in Lapu-Lapu for the opening of classes, added Balabat.
“The very crucial hours where our police are needed are in the early morning when students come to schools and during the dismissal in the afternoon,” said Balabat.
Frank Brazil, director of CTMS, said there are five big schools in the city that need more attention. These schools include the City Central School, Gun-ob, Pusok, Babag and Marigondon,
“We advise the motorists to just follow the traffic rules to avoid more delays,” said Brazil./CORRESPONDENTS NORMAN V. MENDOZA AND CHITO O. ARAGON