• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) will deploy 1,100 police personnel to secure opening of classes on June 16, provincial police director P/Col. Rainerio de Chavez disclosed on Tuesday.
Police personnel will be deployed at all schools in the 31 component cities and municipalities of the province, said De Chavez, who met with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to discuss their security operations in the opening of classes.
The Department of Education Negros Occidental Division launched its Brigada Eskwela 2025 on June 9 at the Binalbagan National High School, in preparation for the opening of classes on Monday.
Ian Arnold Arnaez, DepEd Negros Occidental Division spokesman, said they are expecting an additional 1,500 enrollees within the Deped Negros Occidental supervised schools, this school year.
Schools in 19 towns and Talisay City are under the supervision of DepEd Negros Occidental Division, and the 12 other cities, including Bacolod City, have their own respective division offices.
Last year, DepEd Negros Occidental Division recorded 324,000 enrollees.
The enrollment period for this school year started from June 9 until the 13th.
In the case of La Castellana, which is among the local government units affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano, Arnaez said they have formulated learning continuity plans to ensure the delivery of basic education to the learners.
He added that they are discussing with the La Castellana municipal government the possibility of vacating some classrooms occupied by internally displaced persons (IDPs), and their transfer to other areas.
While there is no final plan yet for the relocation of some IDPs, Arnaez said they are also working on adding temporary learning spaces, in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense and other DepEd partners.
For schools with excess MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses), Arnaez said some of them can allocate some amount for the construction of temporary learning spaces, not only to accommodate enrolled students, but also learners in evacuation centers.*
