Mayor Joy Belmonte (PNA file photo by Joey Razon) MANILA - The local government of Quezon City (QC) and the city's 158 public elementary and high schools are prepared and ready for the resumption of classes on Monday. Based on the data of the Schools Division Office (SDO), QC has a total of 440,821 learners enrolled in the city's public schools as of Aug. 20. "Patapos pa lang ang klase noong nakaraang school year, naghahanda na tayo para sa darating na pasukan. Tinitiyak natin na may sapat na personnel at kagamitan ang ating mga paaralan para masiguro ang kaligtasan ng ating mga estudyante at mga guro sa pagbabalik-eskwela (Classes were about to end last school year but we already started preparing for the next opening of classes. We made sure the schools have enough personnel and supplies to ensure the safety of students and teachers as they go back to classes)," Mayor Joy Belmonte said. According to the SDO, only 81 schools will implement five days of in-person classes while the remaining 77 will initially adopt blended learning modality. Schools under the blended learning mode will be given until Nov. 2 to transition to in-person classes, in accordance with Department of Education Order No. 34, series of 2022. Brigada Eskwela was also conducted, with the help of various education stakeholders to ensure that classrooms and school facilities are all set. All school supervisors are stationed in schools on Monday. The Division of City Schools-Quezon City earlier conducted a series of meetings with school heads, supervised the conduct of simulation classes and conducted parents' orientation per school to assure them that the students will receive school supplies and tablets. Further, the city's Law and Order Cluster will be present in each school to ensure strict compliance with the minimum health and safety protocols in their premises, and the orderly queuing and waiting by parents and guardians. The Task Force for Transport and Traffic Management (TFTTM) will also deploy a total of 560 traffic enforcers that will be assigned in schools along major thoroughfares, as well as in critical intersections to control the traffic flow. They will also make sure that students riding public transportation will be given a 20 percent discount. On the other hand, personnel of the Department of Public Order and Safety are visiting schools to remind principals on enforcing health protocols, and prohibition of sale and distribution of sugary foods in accordance with City Ordinance SP-2579, S-2017. The city is also preparing Covid-19 home care kits for students, in case of infection within schools. To make vaccination accessible for students and their parents, selected schools have set up vaccination sites through the PinasLakas campaign of the Department of Health. (PR) }