Earlier, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno called for high police visibility, particularly in school vicinities, to discourage criminal elements from preying on students.
This is in line with annual government preparations, dubbed "Oplan Balik Eskwela" (Operation Plan: Back to School) and led by the Department of Education, aimed at keeping the streets safe and traffic jam -free.
Aside from the DILG, the Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Police, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Transportation and Communication are also participating in the preparations.
The Bureau of Fire Protection has sent teams to inspect dormitories and boarding houses to see if they are complying with safety standards. — Cecille Suerte Felipe