By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The police in Negros Occidental will oversee the security of various schools, colleges and universities in the province as they gradually return to a full face-to-face (F2F) classes in the next few months.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) spokesperson, Police Lt. Judesses Catalogo, said they are closely coordinating with their partners at the Department of Education (DepEd) schools division in the province.
Catalogo said NOCPPO has already expressed its intention to join the DepEd with its ongoing Brigada Eskwela 2022 and Balik Eskwela programs.
As for the colleges and universities, he said they have also coordinated with them with regards to their schedules of class openings.
Catalogo said all police units under NOCPPO were instructed to set up police help desks in all learning institutions in their respective areas.
NOCPPO will also increase their police visibility in the schools in order to deter criminal elements from victimizing the students.
He further noted that DepEd has positively reacted to their plans and they are ready for the full implementation of F2F classes in Negros Occidental.
As of July 12, 252 of the 581 public elementary schools and 10 of the 117 private schools under the supervision of the DepEd-Negros Occidental Division were ready for in-person learning.
Marsette Sabbaluca, Schools Division Superintendent of Negros Occidental, also identified the towns of E.B. Magalona, Don Salvador Benedicto, Pontevedra, Toboso and Valladolid as ready for the resumption of full F2F classes./WDJ