Heavy traffic around schools as classes start

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported that there was heavy traffic around schools as classes opened yesterday, but otherwise the overall situation was generally peaceful.

NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales said there was a heavy flow of vehicular traffic in several areas of Metro Manila, including the University Belt and the La Salle Greenhills area.

“But we are already been anticipating these problems so we immediately dispatched police, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPATs) teams to the areas and traffic was eased before noon,” he said.

Rosales also said there was “no report of crime incidents involving students” in the metropolis’ five police districts.

He attributed the zero crime rate during the opening of classes to the security preparations of the NCRPO, the MMDA and BPATs in the vicinity of schools.

Rosales said the Public Assistance Centers (PACs) erected in the vicinity of campuses played key roles in the maintenance of peace and order yesterday.

Meanwhile, Rosales will visit schools and campuses in Metro Manila today to inspect security deployment and distribute whistles to students for free.

“They can blow their whistle each time they witness an ongoing crime or being followed by suspicious-looking individuals,” he added.

The NCRPO shouldered the cost of the whistles, priced at P5 each.