The Philippine National Police (PNP) will work with the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) to secure schools in remote areas.
‘Access to education must be matched by access to safety,’ PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement on Friday.
‘The PNP will continue working with DepEd, LGUs, and community stakeholders to protect schools, secure education personnel, and promptly address security concerns in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,’ he stressed.
This came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12321 or the Last Mile and Gida (geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas) Schools Act last July 22.
The law institutionalizes government support for public basic education schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
‘Education should never be limited by distance or security concerns,’ Nartatez said.
‘The PNP will continue to do its part to keep schools and communities safe so that teachers can fulfill their mission and students can focus on learning with confidence,’ he added.