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Exactly a week before the opening classes on June 10, the Department
of Education formally opened its Oplan Balik Eskwela Information and
Action Center to ensure smooth first day of classes.
In a statement, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus
said the action center would hold office at the Bulwagan ng
Karunungan, of the department’s Central Office in Pasig City. It
will respond to the public’s need for prompt action on their
school opening concerns. Hotlines will also be available from 7:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
“The program will enable us to quickly address
the students’ and parents’ concerns alike”, Lapus said.
The Education department’s action center is
also tasked to coordinate with other government agencies involved in
the opening of classes.
Lapus has ordered the Educational department’s
regional directors and schools division superintendents to designate
two action officers who will oversee regional and local concerns.
In the past, most complaints were on the
collection of fees by some schools.The department has issued strict
orders to the administration of state-run schools to refrain from
collecting fees as a requisite for enrollment.
The public can call submit their questions or
complaints through its hotline numbers 636-1663, fax number 638-8641
or through text 0919-4560027, by texting DEPED FDBK <NAME>
<MESSAGE>, andsending it to 2622 (for Globe and Smart), or
through e-mail at action@deped.gov.ph
For its part, the Philippine National Police
will also deploy secret marshals around exclusive schools,
particularly in areas where there are a handful of Filipino-Chinese
students, to keep an eye against kidnap against kidnap-for-ransom
groups.
“The police would also coordinate with
‘force multipliers’, such as security guards and village people
to drive away criminals,” said national police spokesperson Chief
Supt. Nicanor Bartolome.
National police Chief Director Gen. Avelino
Razon Jr. earlier said that the 125,000-strong police would
implement a nationwide security and public safety plan for the
opening of the school year.
-- James Konstantin Galvez and Maricel V. Cruz
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