THE DEPARTMENT of Education has set up a command center that will handle queries and concerns related to the School Year 2021-2022 that will open on September 13.

“We want to make sure that we will be able to address all enrollment-related issues and queries of the stakeholders for us to assist them and create policies if deemed necessary,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

The agency’s Oplan Balik Eskwela 2021 Public Assistance Command Center was set up at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan at DepEd’s central office. It will accommodate queries of parents, learners, and other stakeholders received through hotlines, emails, SMS, and social media. The command center will run until September 17.

DepEd Central Office PACC may be contacted through (02) 8636-1663, (02) 8633-1942, (02) 8638-7529, (02) 8638-7530, (02) 8638-7531, (02) 8635-9817, (02) 8634-0222, and (02) 8638-8641; and cellphone hotline numbers at 0919 456 0027 (Smart), and 0995 921 8461 (Globe). For more information regarding the enrollment and opening of classes, the general public may also visit https://www.deped.gov.ph/obe/.

DepEd said walk-ins will not be allowed.

“To protect the health of the persons involved, the set-up is strictly limited to concerned personnel only. We will practice stringent health and safety protocols throughout the OBE campaign without sacrificing our service to the public,” Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said.

The department said that regional and division command centers were also set up nationwide to assist in disseminating and clarifying DepEd policies, programs, projects and processes for School Year 2021-2022.

Furthermore, OBE-PACC will coordinate with concerned DepEd offices on complex concerns requiring the specific offices’ appropriate action.

Meanwhile, Briones also reminded parents and guardians of learners to enroll their children before September 13 to avoid inconvenience.

As of September 6, DepEd recorded 17,967,733 enrollees for School Year 2021-2022.