Duterte OKs expansion of limited in-person classes in areas under Alert Level 1, 2

ALL SET Students attend a simulation of face to face classes at Longos Elementary School in Alaminos town, Pangasinan province, last Friday. —NATHANIEL WAMIL/CONTRIBUTOR

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte  has approved the expansion of limited face-to-face classes in areas under Alert Level 1 and 2, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday.

The Department of Education (DepEd) late Monday recommended to the president a “progressive expansion” of limited in-person classes by February wherein only COVID-19 vaccinated teaching and non-teaching staff will be allowed to participate.

“Yes, as presented by [Secretary Leonor] Briones, ang kanilang recommendation to the president is to allow the DepEd, together with DOH (Department of Health) to expand face-to-face classes lalong-lalo na sa mga naka-Alert Level 2, subject to number 1 support ng LGU (local government unit), number 2 may pahintulot din po sa mga magulang and sa mga stakeholders ng pamahalaan,” Nograles said during the Palace press briefing when asked if Duterte approved the recommendation.

(Yes, as presented by Secretary Briones, their recommendation is to allow the DepEd, together with the DOH, to expand face-to-face classes, especially in areas under Alert Level 2, subject to the LGU’s support and the permission of parents and stakeholders.)

“So, with no objection, kumbaga walang objection si pangulo doon, and after the presentation in Sec. Briones, then tuloy-tuloy po nila ‘yung pag-aaral nila. Again, it will be the DepEd and DOH combined who will be assessing the expansion pilot implementation ng (of) face-to-face classes under DepEd,” he continued.

(So, with no objection, the president has no objections to that, and after Sec. Briones’ presentation, they will continue to study it.)

DepEd’s pilot run of physical classes ended on December 22. A total of 287 schools conducted classes to around 15,000 students.

EDV