No decision yet on proposed face-to-face classes but Duterte had ‘positive reaction’

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte had a “positive reaction” to the latest proposal of the Department of Education (DepEd) to hold limited pilot face-to-face classes in areas with low number of COVID-19 infections, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Education Secretary Leonor Briones presented the department’s proposal to Duterte in a recent public address, but it was not aired.

“Si Presidente naman ay positive ang kanyang reaction doon sa possibility na magkakaroon tayo ng pilot study on a very limited basis,” he said in a Palace briefing.

(The President has a positive reaction to the possibility of holding a pilot study in a very limited basis.)

“Hintayin natin ang pinal na desisyon. Ang masasabi ko lang, positive naman ang reaksyon ni Presidente, provided na limited ang pilot at talagang doon sa lugar na mababa ang bilang ng COVID-19,” he added.

(Let’s wait for the final decision. What I can say for now is the President had a positive reaction to it, provided that the pilot classes are limited and only in places with low occurrence of COVID-19.)

The new school year, 2021-2022, officially began on Monday, Sept. 13.

This would be the second year for Philippine schools to implement distance or blended learning where learning modules, television, radio and the internet are utilized as media of instruction.

The DepEd announced that the enrollment period is extended until Sept. 30.

While waiting for the go-signal from the President for pilot in-person classes, the DepEd earlier said 120 schools are already lined up to conduct it.

The government was supposed to hold pilot face-to-face classes in low-risk areas earlier rhis year but was deferred after the presence of different COVID-19 variants were detected in the country.

JPV