PRO3 Regional Director Police Brig. General Jess B. Mendez conducts early morning school inspections on June 8, 2026 to ensure the safety and security of learners, teachers, and parents during the opening of classes across Central Luzon, in line with the PNP’s commitment to a safe and orderly school year. (Jason de Asis)
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — The opening of School Year 2026–2027 across Central Luzon was generally peaceful and orderly, with the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) reporting zero major incidents on the first day of classes as thousands of police personnel were deployed to safeguard students, teachers, and school communities.
To personally oversee security preparations, PRO3 Regional Director Police Brigadier General Jess B. Mendez conducted early morning inspections in selected schools throughout the region on June 8, ensuring that police assistance and safety measures were fully operational before classes began.
The inspections formed part of the Philippine National Police’s nationwide school opening security operations aimed at providing a safe and conducive learning environment for millions of learners returning to classrooms.
Mendez visited several schools where he coordinated with school officials and education authorities, assessed traffic management plans, and checked the deployment of police personnel assigned to maintain order in and around school premises. He also inspected Police Assistance Desks (PADs) established in key areas to provide immediate support to students, parents, and teachers.
Meanwhile, police officers were strategically positioned near schools, major road networks, transport terminals, and other public areas to ensure smooth traffic flow, deter criminal activities, and respond promptly to any security concerns.
According to PRO3, the absence of major incidents during the first day of classes reflected the effectiveness of extensive coordination among law enforcement agencies, local government units, school administrators, community volunteers, and other stakeholders.
“Seeing our personnel on the ground and speaking directly with school officials allowed us to verify that our security preparations are in place. We want every learner to feel safe, every parent to have peace of mind, and every teacher to focus on delivering quality education,” Mendez said.
He noted that strong police visibility and active community participation remain key factors in maintaining safe school environments and building public confidence during the opening of classes.
“The peaceful opening of classes across Central Luzon reflects what can be achieved when communities come together with a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of our learners,” he added.
Throughout the day, PRO3 personnel conducted regular patrols and maintained a visible presence in school zones to ensure public safety and provide assistance when needed. Officers were also directed to remain approachable and ready to respond to emergencies and other incidents.
As the new academic year begins, PRO3 assured the public that heightened security measures and community-based policing initiatives will continue throughout the region to support a secure, peaceful, and productive learning environment for all students.
The successful and incident-free opening of classes underscores PRO3’s commitment to delivering responsive police service and strengthening partnerships that promote safety and security in schools across Central Luzon. (Jason de Asis)