‘Generally peaceful’

Some 400,000 students trooped to various public elementary and secondary schools in Quezon City yesterday in a generally peaceful opening of classes.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. announced over the weekend that preparations have been in place to prevent any unforeseen circumstances that may mar the first day of school.

As early as 6 a.m. yesterday, uniformed policemen and traffic enforcers were seen manning their posts at all intersections on major routes leading to the different schools.

Apart from the usual confusion in locations of classrooms, there were no major incidents as elementary and high school students formally began classes yesterday morning.

Belmonte noted a five percent increase in total enrollees this year but assured parents that the city has more than 20 new school buildings to accommodate most of the students.

The highest number of enrollees was posted in District 2 with more than 70,000 high school students and 159,000 elementary students. District 2 is made up of the Novaliches, Fairview, Commonwealth, Tandang Sora, Pasong Tamo, Batasan and Payatas areas.

He said the city government is set to construct 520 more classrooms until his term expires in June 2004.

The mayor also announced an increase in the number of city scholars from 1,200 to 1,550 this schoolyear to ensure that poor but deserving students can pursue their college education.

The city government is also set to transform public city libraries into electronic learning centers so poor students can have access to the internet.

Belmonte has allocated some P12.87 million of the city’s Special Education Fund for the project, with 10 public schools from the city’s four districts selected as pilot sites.

In Manila, the first day of classes was trouble-free at the city’s 32 public high schools and 72 elementary schools, Mayor Lito Atienza said yesterday.

"So far, so good. We have not received reports of any untoward incidents and we expect the situation to remain that way for the rest of the day," he said.

The mayor based his assessment on the reports submitted to him by Western Police District director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong and Manila Division of City Schools Superintendent Dr. Ma. Luisa Quiñones.

Atienza, however, reminded the police to remain vigilant as criminal elements like holduppers, snatchers and pickpockets might strike anytime.

"Continue to maintain highly visible police presence around the schools to ensure the safety and security of students," he stressed, adding that traffic enforcers should be on hand especially during the rush hours.

An estimated 500,000 students attended the first day of classes in Manila, which has the most number of schools among cities and municipalities.

Traffic was heavy in several parts of the city, but personnel of the WPD-Traffic Enforcement Office and the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau were deployed to ease the flow of vehicles on major thoroughfares.– Cecille Suerte Felipe, Perseus Echeminada