DepEd asked to issue air ventilation guidelines

File photo from Agence France-Presse

MANILA, Philippines — A coalition of education, social welfare, and transportation groups called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to issue clear ventilation guidelines for the conduct of in-person classes on Nov. 2.

“We urge the Department of Education to provide detailed guidelines that would enable schools to adopt measures to improve ventilation based on the given class size, room size, and class duration, among others,” Aral Pilipinas said in a joint statement with other groups on Monday.

“By acknowledging that COVID-19 transmission is airborne, corresponding ventilation policies must be put in place since there is a greater risk of transmission indoors compared to outdoors,” they said.

Aral Pilipinas cited the Department of Health’s Administrative Order No. 2021-0043, which provides that the airflow in school must be maintained at 1,000 parts per million.

The signatories include the groups Advocates of Inclusion, Young People’s Council PH Komyut, Move Metro Manila, Bicycle Friendly Philippines, Move As One Coalition, and Galing Pook Foundation.

—JANE BAUTISTA

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