Mayors told to support Oplan Balik Eskwela

The Department of Interior and Local Government has called on mayors and barangay captains to support Oplan Balik Eskwela to ensure that all will be smooth and in order.

“You must ensure that no child is refused from any public school and there is no overpricing of school supplies to enable parents to buy them at regulated prices,” Sec. Ronaldo Puno said in a memorandum.

Oplan Balik Eskwela is a campaign to ensure that students are enrolled and accommodated when classes open next week. It is being spearheaded by the Department of Education with the DILG as one of the inter-agency convergence partners for Oplan Balik Eskwela SY 2007-2008.

In a memorandum circular he issued, Puno enjoined all local chief executives, including barangay captains to support Oplan Balik Eskwela by undertaking proactive efforts to attain the program’s objective.

He told all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, that as chairmen of their respective Local School Boards, they should convene their LSBs and Local Price Monitoring Councils so they can undertake measures in the preparation for the opening of classes.

The barangay captains are urged to mobilize their barangay tanods in assisting the members of the Philippine National Police in ensuring the safety of the schoolchildren.

Puno also urged city and municipal mayors to direct their police forces to further intensify the implementation of police visibility program particularly along university and school vicinities to deter pickpocketing, cellphone snatching and robbery.  — Gregg M. Rubio/BRP