The Police Regional Office in Cordillera (PROCor) said Friday that more than 1,700 policemen from all over the region would be deployed to safeguard the more than 350,000 learners in public and private schools who are expected to return for the opening of classes on Monday.
Capt. Marnie Abellanida, information officer at the PROCor, on Friday said 1,710 personnel and 1,806 force multipliers will be deployed in the region.
He added that they will also deploy policemen in uniform and plain clothes personnel in terminal hubs, and other crowded places to ensure peace and order, as well as the security and safety of the students and the public.
Aside from the cellphone and landline hotline numbers of the different police stations, police authorities can also be reached via their Hotline 239.
“I take this opportunity to remind students to take extra precautions, alert and watchful of their belongings because we expect pickpockets that’s why we have added policemen deployed on the streets,” Abellanida said.
Cyrille Gaye Miranda, of the DepEd-CAR public affairs office, said 354,340 learners have enrolled at public and private schools in Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Tabuk City, lower than the 448,205 who enrolled last school year.
“Tuloy-tuloy naman ang enrollment natin kahit nagsimula na ang classes (the enrollment will continue even after the classes have started). We will continue to accept our learners,” Miranda said.
However, she encouraged the parents and guardians to enroll their children early so they would not miss a lesson.
She also assured parents that schools have taken appropriate measures to ensure the safety of their children as well as all school personnel.
The DepEd-CAR said 1,308 public and private schools or 62.73 percent of the total schools operating in the region will adopt the five-day, in-person classes beginning Monday.
Meanwhile, 629 schools will be using blended learning modalities, and four will remain under full distance learning. (PNA)