MANILA: Around 30,000 police officers will ensure the safety of students across the country when public elementary and high schools open Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday. PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that while several local government units have postponed school opening following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina and monsoon rains, the police force remained focused on securing the students. 'Habang hinaharap natin itong sitwasyon ng bagyong Carina ay tuloy tuloy na rin naman 'yung ginagawa natin paghahanda para nga sa balik eskwela ngayong taon na ito (As we face this situation caused by Typhoon Carina, we continue in our preparations for Balik Eskwela this year)," Fajardo said in a recent interview. The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday said 738 schools -- 442 in Central Luzon, 206 in the National Capital Region, 86 in the Cordillera Administrative Region and four in Cotabato -- have rescheduled their class opening. Fajardo said officers are instructed to c onduct patrols in the schools' vicinity and to establish police assistance desks (PADs). Police officers must also coordinate with school officials to discuss security measures. Source: Philippines News Agency