Manila to welcome other med schools’ bid for face-to-face classes

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. (Photo from the Manila City Mayor’s Office)

MANILA, Philippines — The City of Manila will welcome applications from other universities and schools offering medical programs to conduct face-to-face classes, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said Friday.

 Moreno said that so far, only the University of Santo Tomas (UST) has applied and was allowed to conduct face-to-face classes for its medical and allied health programs.  

“We welcome CEU (Centro Escolar University) for that matter, EAC (Emilio Aguinaldo College), FEU (Far Eastern University), or anybody na may medical school. Malamang sa hindi, papayagan namin,” he said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.

 (We welcome possible applications from CEU, EAC, FEU, or any other university or college with a medical school. We will most likely approve their applications.)

 Moreno said the city government is also likely to allow smaller nursing schools to conduct face-to-face classes as long as guidelines issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are followed the LGU is allowed to conduct regular inspection of the schools.

The City of Manila approved UST’s proposal after President Rodrigo Duterte allowed the resumption of limited face-to-face classes for medical and allied health programs in institutions located in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ areas.

The University of Santo Tomas campus in the city of Manila (INQUIRER.net file photo)

Domagoso said the city government can also offer free swab testing for medical students who will attend face-to-face classes.

 “The City of Manila, we have three machines and two laboratories. We can offer [swab test] regularly. Para magkaroon sila ng peace of mind (for their peace of mind), we can submit them to swab testing, and it can be available for free so that it would not add cost to the students,” he said.

  gsg