The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Quezon City raised concerns over a recent activity organized by a Quezon City-based college, which reportedly led to unfortunate events and posed serious safety concerns for its students.
In a statement on Sunday, the LGU urged all schools to prioritize student safety when organizing large-scale events.
"The Quezon City Government strongly urges all schools to make student safety their utmost priority when organizing large-scale events. This reminder comes after a recent incident involving a Quezon City-based private school's weekend activity that aimed to transport thousands of students to an out-of-town resort in celebration of its founding anniversary, which caused severe traffic disruptions and raised serious safety concerns for the students," the LGU's statement read.
The statement was made following Bestlink College of the Philippines' Founding Anniversary held in Hermosa, Bataan.
Viral videos on social media, posted by students, expressed complaints about the event, which extended late into the night. They claimed they were forced to walk long distances to reach the venue and return to the bus terminal.
Additionally, students alleged that the event was overly commercialized, citing exorbitant transportation fees, overpriced resort tickets, and even the cost of 'ice water' being sold at ₱10.
Photos uploaded by a student named Lance Ramos showed large crowds of students on the roads, with one video capturing an ambulance in the area as several students reportedly fainted due to hunger and exhaustion.
In response, the Quezon City LGU reminded schools of their responsibility to exercise due diligence by ensuring meticulous planning and close coordination with LGUs and other relevant authorities.
"Adherence to established safety protocols is non-negotiable and must be strictly observed to safeguard students and prevent undue inconvenience to the public," the LGU emphasized.
"We call on all educational institutions to remain steadfast in upholding these standards. Together, let us create a safer, more responsible environment for our students and the broader community," it concluded.
The Bestlink College of the Philippines has yet to release a statement regarding the issue.
It can be recalled that during a field trip by the same school in February 2017, 15 people died, 13 of whom were students, after the bus they were riding in was involved in an accident in Tanay, Rizal.
