Palace: DepEd OKs use of public schools as isolation centers until December

MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Leonor Briones has approved the use of public schools as isolation facilities until the end of this year, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this will be part of efforts to ramp up quarantine facilities for possible patients of COVID-19.

“Pumayag naman po si [Department of Education] Secretary Leonor Briones na gamitin ang mga public schools hanggang December 31 ng taong ito habang wala pong face to face ang ating mga estudyante,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(Secretary Briones allowed the use of public schools until December 31 since there will be no face to face classes yet.)

“So bukod pa po doon, sa mga istruktura na tinatayo po ni Secretary [Mark] Villar, ang ating isolation czar, nandiyan din po ang ating mga public schools para magsilbing isolation facilities sa level po ng mga barangays dahil importante po talaga ma-isolate kung wala pong sariling kuwarto at walang sariling banyo,” he added.

(Apart from the infrastructures being built by Secretary Villar, our isolation czar, our public schools may also be used as isolation facilities in barangay levels because it’s important to isolate if one does not have their own room and own bathroom.)

Classes will open on August 24 through blended learning or the use of modules, radio, television, and internet as media of instruction.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said face-to-face classes will only be allowed in areas that are low-risk of COVID-19 by January 2021.

The Philippines so far has recorded 139,538 COVID-19 cases, including 2,312 deaths and 68,432 recoveries.

CFC