A 10-year-old female Grade 2 student of Cabagñan Elementary School in Legazpi City, Albay was rushed to a nearby hospital on Monday after collapsing during the start of classes for school year 20254-2025, according to the Albay Provincial Police Office.
Police Col. Julius Añonuevo rescued the girl, who reportedly vomited bloody phlegm, felt weak and turned pale when she lost consciousness during the flag-raising ceremony on the first day of school.
The student was among the 1,758,628 back-to-school students in the province. She reportedly came to school this morning without any guardian as her 37-year-old single father had to report for his job. He was working as a janitor for the Legazpi City Hospital.
As of this posting, the grade-schooler was still under observation after going through blood, urine, and X-ray examinations at the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC).
She is still under observation after undergoing blood, urine and X-Ray examinations at the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC).
The Bicol Police Regional Office, through regional director P/BGen. Andre Dizon said law enforcement authorities are taking the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of students and teachers.
At least 1,526 police officers have been deployed across Bicol to monitor and protect over 3,892 schools in the region, according to Dizon. They have also set up at least 397 easily accessible police assistance desks.
“Our priority is the safety and comfort of our students and teachers as they return to school”, Dizon said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) in Bicol said it anticipates 1,758,628 or 1.46 percent increase of enrollees this school year 2024-2025.
It means there are 23,377 more school children this year than last year’s total of 1,733,251, said DepEd regional director Gilbert Sadsad. Public schools are told to accommodate late enrollees and parents are advised to have their children enrolled within this week.
“Because it would be difficult for the students if the lessons they have to catch pile up,” explained Sadsad. “Enrollees will still be accommodated by our public schools even if the classes have already started,” he added.
