Opening of classes peaceful – NCRPO

MANILA, Philippines — The opening of classes in Metro Manila yesterday was peaceful, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

At least 7,153 police officers were deployed for the start of the school year, said NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

Of this figure, around 2,000 were directed to man police assistance desks in the vicinity of public schools.

There are at least 1,230 public, and private schools and college and universities in Metro Manila.

“Our tactical operations center at the NCRPO received no untoward incidents as of 5 p.m. The opening of classes in Metro Manila is orderly and very peaceful,” Eleazar said in an interview.

In Quezon City, the first day of classes for its 460,000 students went well despite a 1,000-classroom shortage, officials said.

Assistant superintendent Mark Padilla of the City Schools Division Office said classroom shortage has been a long-time problem but the city government has resorted to increasing class sizes, implemening double class shifts and dividing classrooms.

Meanwhile, around 100 grade one students in Malabon were given pencils and notebooks by the Northern Police District (NPD) during yesterday’s school opening.

NPD community affairs chief Maj. Connie Salas led the distribution of plastic envelopes containing notebooks and pencils bought using P6,800 contributed by police officers.

Longos Elementary School principal Irene Wabel said the beneficiaries were selected from the six sections of the first grade who were most in need of the school kits. – Romina Cabrera, Marc Jayson Cayabyab