PNP ready for school opening on Monday

Manila, Philippines -  The Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready for the opening of classes on Monday.

PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome yesterday said 250 policemen would be sent to the vicinities of schools, colleges and universities to ensure safety of students, parents and teachers.

“We are prepared already for the start of classes,” Bartolome said.

“Instead of patrolling the streets, our policemen will conduct patrol in the school areas,” he said.

Bartolome said increased police visibility will discourage criminality and protect students coming back on Monday.

“That is why our directive is for police units nationwide to coordinate with school authorities. There is a need for our territorial police units to hold dialogue with parent-teacher associations and school administrators to determine the specific assistance that can be extended by our policemen,” he added.

About 30 million students, from pre-school to college, are expected to troop to their respective schools during the opening of classes on June 4. Private schools, as initially reported, will start on June 13.

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), on the other hand, ordered tollway operators to be ready with their traffic management plans for an expected surge in vehicular traffic at the different toll expressways with the opening of classes on Monday.

TRB executive director Edmundo Reyes Jr. said tollway operators were also tasked to ensure the quick deployment of additional traffic personnel, particularly in flooded areas that worsen traffic buildup in the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila.

Reyes said traffic volume was already expected to surge this weekend for the school opening on Monday.

“They (tollway operators) should be ready with their traffic management plans and deploy traffic enforcers,” Reyes said.

Metro Manila Skyway and South Luzon Expressway operator, the Manila Toll Expressway Systems (MATES)/Skyway O&M Corp. (SOMCO), for its part, said they expect heavy volume of traffic at SLEX and the Skyway starting June 4 up to about June 9, when the influx of students from Metro Manila and nearby provinces return from their summer vacation for the opening of classes.

Under Oplan 2011 Balik-Eskwela, SOMCO and MATES will closely coordinate with the local police units and the PNP Highway Patrol Group, the Toll Regulatory Board, the Land Transportation Office, the concerned local government units and other support groups like BFP-EMS, Lifeline Rescue and AAP Towing Services.

By working with these agencies and support groups, SOMCO and MATES expect to keep traffic moving and motorists safe and comfortable, deter lawless activities especially at SLEX, promptly assist motorists in distress, provide emergency medical service, and quickly remove traffic obstructions, among others.

Both operators will deploy additional enforcers and motorcycle units inside the tollway and its nearby vicinity, especially at identified entry/exit choke points, where ambulant tellers will be assigned during the peak morning and afternoon hours. 

Their respective 24/7 Operations Command Centers will intensify their monitoring for efficient and timely response to any unusual incidents or emergencies.

SOMCO and MATES appealed to motorists to cooperate by checking the roadworthiness of their vehicles before they travel to prevent breakdown or malfunction; observe road courtesy, drive carefully and observe speed limits to avoid accidents, and obey other tollway traffic rules.

With students making up a large part of pedestrian traffic in the interchanges, the Skyway and SLEX operators urged parents and teachers to remind their children and pupils to be careful when commuting and to obey rules like using proper pedestrian crossing and waiting in the designated loading areas for public utility vehicles.

Due to the ongoing rehabilitation work of the Department of Public Works and Highways on Sales bridge, SOMCO said traffic buildup in the NAIA expressway ramp area along Andrews avenue inside Villamor Air Base is expected to worsen during peak traffic hours when schools open.

Motorists traversing the affected area are advised to look for alternate routes.

SOMCO and MATES assured the motoring and commuting public that they are exhausting all resources to enhance their safety, security and comfort and that they have made preparations for the onset of the rainy season.

For emergencies and suggestions or request for assistance, motorists can call the SOMCO hotline 777-7777 and MATES at 0908-8807539. – With Rainier Allan Ronda