City heads, police to meet over class opening safeguards

CEBU, Philippines – Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has called for a command conference with all police chiefs in Cebu City together with the City Hall department heads to discuss their preparations for the opening of classes next month.

Rama yesterday ordered his secretary to schedule the conference within this week, or early next week, and encouraged Cebu City councilors to attend the meeting and give their inputs on how to improve public service during the opening of classes.

In yesterday’s press conference, Rama explained that he wants to see to it that the preparations of the police on how to protect the students from criminals during the opening of classes are in place.

Rama also included the City Hall department heads during the conference so they can quickly react to whatever problems that the police chiefs may bring up, like the lack of lighting facilities in areas near some schools, which is the job of the Department of Public Services.

One of the programs of the police to discourage criminal elements from victimizing students is to assign uniformed policemen in crime-prone areas.

Rama said he also wants the chief of the Department of Engineering and Public Works to be present during the conference to react immediately if somebody will bring up the issue about uncovered manholes or drainage systems.

But while Rama admitted that the conference will take up several good public issues, he does not want to allow the members of the media to cover the event.

“Ayaw lang usa kay basin og dunay mag-away atul sa conference og mao na hinoo’y ma-blow up sa media,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cebu City councilor Gerardo Carillo, chairman of the city council committee on education, said selected teachers in the city have been ordered to attend a refresher course for them to be more effective in their jobs.

Carillo said he is closely coordinating with the education officials under city schools superintendent Lorna Rances in conducting the Brigada Eskwela, the yearly activity where the parents of the students are required to help in repairing and reconditioning the classrooms of their children. – Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)