The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) proposed Monday to resume face-to-face classes in colleges and universities amid the increase of cases, detection of new coronavirus variants, and delay of the vaccination program launch.
“Tama ho ‘yun. ‘Yun ay medyo delikado talaga dahil ‘yung sa mga kabataan ay mahirap pong kontrolin. Pero yung sa mga higher education institution, puwede po ‘yun, may mga edad na ‘yan,” said LPP president and Marinduque governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. on Dobol B TV.
President Rodrigo Duterte decided there would be no face-to-face classes until August 2021, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday.
“Nagdesisyon na po ang ating Presidente na wala pa ring face-to-face classes,” Roque said.
(Our President decided there would be no face-to-face classes yet.)
“Ayaw niya malagay sa alanganin ang buhay ng mga mag-aaral at guro habang wala pang nababakunahan sa bansa,” he added.
(He does not want to put the lives of the students and teachers in danger while there are no vaccines in the country yet.
However, Roque said face-to-face classes could resume in areas with a low number of cases by August.
Last week, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has proposed to conduct face-to-face classes in more than 400 places in the country without a COVID-19 case.
League of Provinces recommends face-to-face classes in universities, colleges
According to Gatchalian, the relevant agencies in the education sector should study the slow reopening of schools.
In addition, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) also allegedly made changes to the COVID-19 protocols.
Aside from face-to-face classes, Duterte also disapproved of the recommendation to place the entire country under the modified general community quarantine starting March.
“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gave his directive to the Cabinet that the Philippines would not be placed under modified general community quarantine unless there is a rollout of vaccines,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
While the President recognized the need to reopen the economy, Roque said Duterte does not want to put people’s health and safety at risk.
“The Chief Executive recognizes the importance of reopening the economy and its impact on people’s livelihoods. However, the President gives higher premium to public health and safety,” he added.