Bacolod City – The Department of Education in the Negros Island Region (DepEd-NIR) has recorded 443,884 enrollees in public schools across the region as of June 4, covering learners from kindergarten to senior high school.
DepEd-NIR spokesperson Almyr Caezar Dequiña disclosed over-the-weekend that the number is expected to increase further as the regional office is still awaiting enrollment data from private schools.
Dequiña also announced the extension of the enrollment period to accommodate more learners.
He reminded students to attend the first day of classes today June 8, emphasizing the importance of their presence as schools begin the academic year.
While schools continue to implement dress code policies, Dequiña clarified that these will not necessarily be strictly enforced during the opening days of classes.
Meanwhile, DepEd has acknowledged the country’s continuing literacy crisis after assessment results showed that 87 percent of Grade 11 students nationwide were classified as non-independent readers.
Dequiña said DepEd-NIR has already begun implementing measures to address the issue. However, the regional office plans to conduct its own assessment to determine the actual literacy situation among learners in the region.
The results of the regional assessment will serve as the basis for developing and implementing targeted literacy intervention programs.
He stressed that the national report was based on a sample population and may not fully reflect the exact condition of learners in the Negros Island Region.
On the other hand, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental has intensified its monitoring of school supplies being sold by retailers ahead of the school opening.
DTI-Negros Occidental Provincial Director Lynna Joy Cardinal said retailers have generally complied with the suggested retail prices (SRPs) for notebooks, yarn, intermediate pads, pencils, and other basic school supplies.
Cardinal noted that monitoring teams continue to inspect stores to ensure compliance and protect consumers from overpricing.
She added that several retailers are also offering promotional discounts on school supplies, providing additional savings for parents and students preparing for the new school year.
Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has approved two resolutions aimed at strengthening security, peace and order, and traffic management in and around schools throughout the city as classes officially resume.
Authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairperson of the Committee on PWD Affairs, the resolutions call for heightened coordination among barangays, law enforcement
agencies, educational institutions, and community stakeholders to ensure a safe and orderly learning environment for all Bacolodnon students.
The first resolution urges all 61 Punong Barangays of Bacolod City to deploy barangay tanods and barangay traffic personnel in strategic areas near elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. The measure encourages barangays to assist the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) in managing traffic, maintaining peace and order, and ensuring the safety of students and pedestrians, particularly during school opening and dismissal hours.
The resolution further encourages barangays to conduct regular visibility patrols, monitor school zones, and coordinate closely with school administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations, and law enforcement agencies in identifying and addressing security concerns.
Complementing this initiative, the second resolution urges the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), under the leadership of City Director Col. Eugene Rabadomia, to intensify police visibility operations and conduct regular foot and mobile patrols in and around educational institutions throughout Bacolod City.
The measure encourages the strategic deployment of police personnel near schools to deter criminal activities, strengthen emergency response readiness, and ensure a peaceful and orderly environment conducive to learning. It likewise calls on the BCPO to enhance anti-illegal drugs campaigns, crime prevention programs, anti-bullying initiatives, and community engagement activities within schools.
Distrito emphasized that the opening of classes brings a significant increase in pedestrian and vehicular movement around educational institutions, making coordinated safety measures essential.
“The safety of our students must always be a top priority. These resolutions recognize that protecting our learners requires a whole-of-community approach involving our barangays, law enforcement agencies, schools, parents, and local government. By increasing visibility, strengthening coordination, and proactively addressing security and traffic concerns, we can create a safer and more secure environment where students can focus on learning and personal development,” Distrito said.
The City Council noted that visible law enforcement presence and active participation from barangays serve as effective deterrents against criminal activities while helping reduce traffic congestion and ensuring safer school zones. (Gilbert Bayoran/ Chrysee Semillano via tvds photo by tvds)