BACOLOD CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) is ready to begin its expanded in-person classes in Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental, as soon as the COVID-19 alert levels are lowered.
“We are just waiting for Alert Level 1,” said Pedro Escobarte Jr., DepEd assistant regional director.
Negros Occidental is currently under Alert Level 2 and could be downgraded to Alert Level 1 in March if its COVID-19 cases continue to drop.
The DepEd earlier announced that 80 schools in Western Visayas, 60 of which are in Negros Occidental, have been recommended for the expanded limited in-person classes.
Escobarte said they want to make sure the schools are safe for the teachers and learners when the classes start.
Close to 100 percent of the teachers in Western Visayas have already been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the return to in-person classes is a work in progress to bring about normalcy.
“We will allow face-to-face classes,” Lacson said.
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