MANILA, Philippines — The Manila City government has approved the proposal of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) to resume limited face-to-face classes for its medical and allied health programs.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said he approved the proposal of the UST after he met with university officials to discuss how the institution will observe health protocols, manage occupancy capacity, and implement contingency plans if students or faculty members develop Covid-19 symptoms.
“Consider it approved. We will just follow the memoranda of CHEd [Commission on Higher Education],” Moreno told UST officials.
Moreno said the meeting was in compliance with a joint memorandum circular by the CHEd and the Department of Health, which requires higher educational institutions wanting to conduct limited face-to-face classes to consult with their respective local government units, their plans on how they will comply with health protocols.
The mayor, however, reminded officials of UST that students who refuse to participate in limited face-to-face classes should not be forced to do so.
The approval of UST’s proposal comes after President Rodrigo Duterte earlier allowed the resumption of limited face-to-face classes for medical and allied health programs in institutions located at general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ areas.
“Ito po ay para hindi tayo maubusan ng mga doctor kung hindi po magpapatuloy ‘yung mga face-to-face [classes] ng mga doctor at allied professionals,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said of Duterte’s decision.
(This is so that we won’t run out of doctors if we won’t allow the face-to-face classes of doctors and allied professionals.)
Earlier, Moreno said teachers will also be among the priorities for vaccination once the LGU has secured Covid-19 vaccines.
“Whether you’re a Manilan or a non-Manilan, as long as you’re working here in Manila, you will be included in the list for vaccines,” he said.