By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA
The Bacolod City council has approved two resolutions aimed at strengthening security, peace and order, and traffic management in and around schools throughout the city as classes open on Monday, June 8.
Councilor Caesar Distrito said the resolutions call for heightened coordination among barangays, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, and community stakeholders to ensure a safe and orderly learning environment for all students in the city.
The city council urged all 61 village chiefs to deploy barangay tanods and barangay traffic personnel in strategic areas near elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and universities.
“The measure encourages barangays to assist the Bacolod City Police Office [BCPO] and the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office [BTAO] in managing traffic, maintaining peace and order and ensuring the safety of students and pedestrians, particularly during school opening and dismissal hours,” Distrito said.
The city council also encouraged barangays to conduct regular visibility patrols, monitor school zones and coordinate closely with school administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations, and law enforcement agencies in identifying and addressing security concerns.
Complementing this initiative, Distrito said they also asked the BCPO to intensify police visibility operations and conduct regular foot and mobile patrols in and around educational institutions throughout Bacolod.
He said the measure encourages the strategic deployment of police personnel near schools to deter criminal activities, strengthen emergency response readiness, and ensure a peaceful and orderly environment conducive to learning.
“It likewise calls on the BCPO to enhance anti-illegal drugs campaigns, crime prevention programs, anti-bullying initiatives, and community engagement activities within schools,” he added.
Distrito emphasized that the opening of classes brings a significant increase in pedestrian and vehicular movement around educational institutions, making coordinated safety measures essential.
“The safety of our students must always be a top priority. These resolutions recognize that protecting our learners requires a whole-of-community approach involving our barangays, law enforcement agencies, schools, parents, and local government. By increasing visibility, strengthening coordination, and proactively addressing security and traffic concerns, we can create a safer and more secure environment where students can focus on learning and personal development,” the councilor said.
Distrito disclosed that visible law enforcement presence and active participation from barangays serve as effective deterrents against criminal activities while helping reduce traffic congestion and ensuring safer school zones./MAP, WDJ