Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) has credited the smooth and peaceful opening of classes to the collaborative efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd), local government units, and various stakeholders. In a statement on Tuesday, PNP Chief Police General Nicolas Torre III emphasized the collective victory achieved through the united efforts of police officers, teachers, parents, and government members in ensuring the safe return of students to their schools.

According to Philippines News Agency, Torre visited key public schools in Quezon City during Monday's school opening and reaffirmed the PNP's commitment to community safety, particularly for children. He noted the deployment of over 37,000 policemen and the establishment of 5,000 police assistance desks to aid approximately 27 million students returning to school. Torre assured that heightened police presence would continue throughout the opening week to maintain order and address any safety concerns promptly.

Torre further instructed police commanders to prioritize fixed visibility points to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and parents. "We assure the parents that your PNP will be watching over your children with the goal of protecting them and ensuring that their learning environment is safe and peaceful," he stated.

In a related development, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara praised the Taguig Learners' Certificate (TLC) scholarship for its innovative educational programs. Pioneered by Mayor Lani Cayetano, the TLC initiative offers graduating public elementary school students in Taguig the opportunity to attend high school in partner private schools within the city, with all tuition and miscellaneous fees covered by the local government.

Angara highlighted the TLC scholarship as a potential model for other local governments. The program currently partners with 61 private high schools across Taguig, and each scholar receives a PHP10,000 allowance for additional school-related needs. "It's good in Taguig because they have the TLC Scholarship. When public schools are overcrowded, the child is given a voucher to choose a private school nearby," Angara remarked during his visit to schools in Metro Manila, including Taguig.

The DepEd is considering implementing similar initiatives in other areas, such as Cavite and Laguna, where public schools face overcrowding challenges.