DepEd officials to convene amid calls for school opening postponement

Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said the Department of Education (DepEd) officials and regional directors would meet Friday, amid calls to postpone the school opening on August 24.

“Nakikinig naman po tayo sa mga panawagan kaya nga po mamayang hapon magkakaroon din po kami ng pangalawang meeting namin with regional directors at palagay ko po ay pag-uusapan talaga kung gaano kahanda at paano sasagutin ang mga panawagan na iyan,” San Antonio said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

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(We are listening to the calls so this afternoon so we will also have our second meeting with regional directors. I think we will really talk about how ready we are and how we will respond to those calls.)

“‘Yung huling pulong namin noong Lunes, Agosto 24 pa rin po ang petsa pero dahil nga po may mga panawagan muli, nagtawag po ng pagpupulong si Secretary [Leonor Briones] at ang alam ko po ito ulit ang pag-uusapan, kung paano ito bibigyan ng kasagutan,” he added.

(Our last meeting on Monday, August 24 was still the date but because there were calls again, Secretary Leonor Briones called a meeting and I know it will be discussed again, on how we could answer this.)

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DepEd on school opening postponement

Education Secretary Leonor  insisted Wednesday that the  on August 24 would push through despite appeals from different sectors and implementation of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in some areas.

“Tuloy pa rin. Tuloy na tuloy talaga on August 24 ang opening of classes,” Briones said in a Palace briefing.

San Antonio noted that the final decision would depend on the discussion between DepEd Secretary and President Rodrigo Duterte.

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A recently-signed law allows Duterte, upon the recommendation of Briones, to reschedule the school opening nationwide or in selected areas during a state of calamity or emergency.

Senator Bong Go, Duterte’s former aid, earlier urged to move the opening of classes in October to ensure everyone’s readiness and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Umaapela ako sa Executive branch na kung maaari ay i-postpone muna ng ilan pang buwan ang pagbubukas ng klase habang wala pang bakuna sa COVID-19. Huwag nating isugal ang buhay at kaligtasan ng ating mga kabataan,” Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, said in a statement.