Escudero to DepEd: Expand pilot face-to-face classes in COVID-free areas

Former Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero has called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to expand the pilot run of face-to-face classes in areas free of COVID-19.

“Matagal ko nang panawagan sa IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] at sa DepEd na sana ay mas palawakin pa ang limited classes na ito,” he said in a statement issued by his office on Tuesday.

(Since before, I have been urging the IATF and DepEd to expand the classes under the limited face-to-face learning pilot runs.)

“I hope they could eventually expand the list and include more schools from Sorsogon,” he added.

According to Escudero, around half of the barangays in Sorsogon are not affected by the global health emergency.

At present, the Buenavista Elementary School in Bacon, Sorsogon is among the 100 elementary schools chosen for the nationwide pilot run.

The Sorsogon Provincial Information Office said that the opening of pilot classes in the area “went smoothly,” as 10 students from grades one to three attended classes in-person.

Separately, DepEd said on Tuesday that collaboration between the schools, LGUs, and the communities is key to the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes.

“With our continuous hard work and dedication, it will not be long when all our learners can safely set foot in their schools once again,” Briones was quoted as saying in an emailed press release.

Two months ago, President Rodrigo Duterte cleared the holding of the dry runs of face-to-face classes in areas with minimal risk for COVID-19, the Palace has reported.

The pilot run is set to last for two months, which Briones said “will be closely monitored.”

In December 2020, Duterte recalled the education sector’s proposal to implement face-to-face pilot classes amid the threat of a new COVID-19 variant first detected in the United Kingdom.

JPV