The Philippine Educators Alliance for Community Empowerment (PEACE) Party-list hailed the government’s decision to allow colleges and universities in areas under Alert Level 1 to hold in-person classes at 100 percent capacity.
“We welcome the IATF decision. This is a sign of better times ahead, and we hope that in the near future more schools will finally be allowed to conduct in-person classes at full capacity,” PEACE PL president and first nominee, Marie Paz T. Abante, said.
Abante said it was high-time that schools be allowed to operate at full capacity.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, through Resolution No. 164, said that fully-vaccinated students and academic staff are allowed entry into school premises.
Meanwhile, unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated students will continue studying under flexible learning modalities.
Dormitories are also allowed to re-open, but the IATF said that colleges and universities must first coordinate with their respective local government units before opening the dorms.
The IATF also required colleges and universities to ensure that participating students are registered with Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or an equivalent medical insurance that covers medical expenses related to COVID-19.
The IATF’s Technical Working Group recommended that students above 21 who are unemployed be enrolled in PhilHealth as indigent members, while younger students may be classified as dependents of their parents or legal guardians.
Dormitories are also allowed to re-open, but the IATF said that colleges and universities must first coordinate with their respective local government units before opening the dorms.
Abante said it was high-time that schools be allowed to operate at full capacity.
“Pinapayagan na nga natin ang mga campaign rally. Karapat-dapat lang at napapanahon na payagan na rin ang mga paaralan na mas kontrolado pa ang environment,” she said.
“Ang mahalaga, siguruhin ng mga paaralan na sapat at maayos ang mga pasilidad nila lalo na ang water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities,” the long-time educator added.
Abante also proposed that schools be placed under both internal and external monitoring mechanisms to ensure continued compliance with safe practices.
“Besides internal monitoring conducted by the schools themselves, perhaps we can task our LGUs to assign marshals that shall regularly monitor the situation,” said Abante.
