Despite Mindanao quake, school opening peaceful and orderly, PNP says
Security measures will continue for the rest of the week
Except for areas affected by the strong earthquake in Mindanao, security measures for students and teachers will continue following what the Philippine National Police (PNP) described as peaceful and orderly opening of classes across the country.
More than 26 million students are enrolled for this school year and PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. he was satisfied by how the security plan to secure them.
The security measures were affected by the 7.8 magnitude quake that hit some areas in Mindanao.
“I commend all our personnel and all our partners in this particular endeavor. The safe, peaceful and orderly opening of classes would have not been a success without the cooperation and the proper coordination with other agencies and stakeholders,” said Nartatez.
More than 55,000 security personnel have been mobilized under Oplan Balik-Eskwela for School Year 2026–2027 as millions of students return to classrooms across the country.
The deployment includes 28,751 PNP personnel, 4,079 personnel from other units, and 22,677 force multipliers from partner agencies and community organizations.
Across the country, 9,319 Police Assistance Desks have been established in campuses and clustered schools. A total of 9,525 mobile patrol units will also be deployed to strengthen police visibility and response capabilities in school zones.
Nartatez said all PNP personnel, backed by force multipliers down to the barangay level, were already strategically deployed in coordination with DepEd and other government agencies.
He said police commanders were instructed to closely monitor the situation in their respective areas and to make security adjustments if necessary.
“Our personnel on the ground know what to do in as many incidents that may arise. Everything was carefully and properly coordinated and planned with other government agencies,” said Nartatez.
He said all police commanders were directed to maintain the level of security in their posts for this week and include police visibility and beat patrol in school areas on a regular basis.
Nartatez assured that maximum school security will be done in a way that will not compromise the mandate of the police force that includes law enforcement operations.
“Our goal is to make our police forces visible and reliable in responding to all calls for assistance in order to make the people feel safe on the streets, in the community and in their homes at all times,” said Nartatez.
He said coordination with DepEd and LGUs will continue for the regular conduct of peace and order measures in the interest of the safety of the students, parents and school authorities.