The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) called on Saturday, Aug. 26, the local government units (LGUs) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to come up with appropriate measures to maintain law and order during the opening of classes next week.
To support the Balik-Eskwela 2023 program, DILG-CAR Director Araceli San Jose saod local chief executives (LCEs) should map out plans and activities that will ensure a safe environment for the students, teachers and parents.
She noted that the LGUs can engage with the Local Peace and Order Council (LPOC) in determining counter actions against potential disturbances that may occur in the routes leading to the schools.
With the expected influx of the students, San Jose urged the LGUs to tap the services of the barangay traffic enforcers and Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT), medical personnel and other force multipliers to ease public inconvenience and maintain readiness for any eventuality.
As part of the security measures, San Jose also appealed to the LGUs to maintain the functionality of the close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and have the public and public schools heavily guarded by their barangay tanods (village security personnel).
The DILG CAR chief reminded the LGUs of their mandate to maintain public order and safety of the citizenry under their jurisdiction as keys to having a progressive community.
She added that the LGUs may secure the services of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and emergency responders for the effective monitoring of the areas leading to the schools.
Aside from the security measures, San Jose prodded the local chief executives to keep track on the prices of school supplies and similar items in adherence to the ‘Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies (Guidelines in the Purchase of School Supplies)’ program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
She pointed out that the LCEs may conduct information campaigns and other measures to guide the concerned parties on the lawful and proper pricing of school supplies and similar necessities as stated in the DTI guidelines.
The DILG noted that the DTI came out with the guidelines on the proper costing of school items to protect the consumers and promote reasonable measures in the trading exercise.