More than 55,000 police officers and force multipliers will be deployed nationwide to help ensure the safe return of millions of students to their classrooms this June, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.
PNP director for operations Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones said a total of 28,751 police personnel will be deployed for the opening of classes, including officers assigned to police assistance desks and those tasked with mobile patrol operations.
The deployment will be augmented by 4,079 personnel from other PNP units and 22,677 force multipliers or volunteer groups.
“Our deployment is already outlined. As the program director, I already directed the different regional offices to strictly monitor the implementation of their respective deployment plans as far as Balik-Eskwela is concerned,” Peñones said during a press briefing.
Asked whether the PNP would raise its alert level for the opening of classes, Peñones said, “Hindi naman kailangan dahil ito naman is part of our routine deployment na isinasagawa ng lahat ng PROs (Police Regional Offices) based [on] the directive from the Directorate for Operations (It’s not needed since it’s part of our routine deployment that all PROs do based on the directive from the Directorate for Operations).”
In Metro Manila, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said more than 4,400 police personnel will be deployed across the region as part of security preparations for the opening of classes on June 8.
Aberin said the deployment includes Police Assistance Desks, foot patrols and mobile units that will be ready to respond to emergencies and manage traffic in school zones, transport hubs and major thoroughfares.
He said police visibility measures would begin this week.
“We are working hand-in-hand with school administrators, local government units, and transport groups to keep the opening of School Year 2026–2027 incident-free,” Aberin said in a statement.
He also reminded the public that ensuring student safety is a shared responsibility.
The NCRPO chief likewise urged the public to remain vigilant and immediately report suspicious activities to the nearest police officer or through the 911 emergency hotline.
For his part, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police force has already factored in the shift in school preparation timelines and moved to adjust deployment plans accordingly.
“We have anticipated the early surge in school shopping caused by the adjustments to the DepEd calendar, and the PNP has proactively recalibrated its deployment strategy to meet this shift,” Nartatez said.
The Department of Education (DepEd) will implement a three-term school calendar for School Year 2026–2027 starting June 8, as part of a reform to improve learning continuity and reduce classroom disruptions.
Under the new system, the school year is divided into three structured terms instead of four quarters: the first term will run from June to early September, then mid-September to early December, and January 2027 to late March, with the school year ending in April 2027.
Disaster preps
Meanwhile, Peñones said the PNP has activated its Crisis Incident Management Task Force on Natural Disasters, headed by the Directorate for Police Community Relations, amid the rainy season.
“Mayroon tayong dedicated personnel to augment yung ating mga local government units for this purpose (We already have dedicated personnel to augment our local government units for this purpose),” he said during the press briefing.
All regional and local police units, Peñones added, have been directed to intensify preparedness efforts and ensure immediate response capability ahead of the full onset of the wet season. (PNA)
