GREATER VIGILANCE TOWARDS PROTECTION OF CHILDREN

MARLET R. SANTOS

The demise of five students recently in Negros Oriental was a huge blow, as innocent lives were lost in such a tragic accident.

This is why the Department of Education (DepEd) is calling on civil society organizations, local government units, national government institutions, and the rest of the community to be more vigilant in protecting children because they are the first victims of accidents and abuse.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the five students, saying it was “really such a great loss”. She said we did not lose only the lives of children; we lost so much promise, so much ambition, and so much hope.

The incident, she said, was perhaps due to lack of vigilance on the grown-ups, those who are responsible for these children’s safety.

In line with this, the Department has bared its plans in the aftermath of the terrible accident. First is the provision of insurance for all schoolchildren— all 27 million of them— year round. Each time groups of children go out of the periphery of campuses, participate in competitions, and travel to other places, they have to be covered by insurance so that if there is a need for benefits and for assistance, these can be av ai l abl e.

The DepEd also made a call to regulatory agencies to “keep a sharper eye” and to conduct more robust assessment and monitoring of vehicles, especially the public utility vehicles like the one carrying the victims of the March 1 accident. Also, the need to look into the state of mind of the drivers and the vehicles, as well as the legality of the franchises.

The DepEd also will the need a quick response fund, especially because the provision of financial assistance for these types of incidents is not included in the DepEd budget.

— oOo— at Pampanga High School

The author is Teacher III