Local government unit (LGU) executives are collectively heaving a sigh of relief after President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday issued a directive to the Department of Education (DepEd) suspending plans to hold face-to-face classes in select schools nationwide.
This according to Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) National President and Quirino Gov. Dax Cua, who on Sunday admitted that LGU chiefs were wary about holding pilot face-to-face classes in their jurisdictions––even in areas with few Covid-19 cases.
“Many of us were concerned about plans to hold face-to-face classes since it is impossible to 100% guarantee the safety of our schoolchildren,” said Cua.
“Even if only one child gets Covid-19––that is one child too many. As a parent, I am extremely reluctant to expose my child to the risk of infection, no matter how minimal, and a great majority of my constituents feel the same way, too.”
“Even if only one child gets Covid-19––that is one child too many.”
Cua pointed out that “current IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) guidelines prohibit minors from leaving their homes, for good reason: to prevent them from catching and spreading the Covid-19 virus.”
“Current IATF guidelines prohibit minors from leaving their homes, for good reason: to prevent them from catching and spreading the Covid-19 virus.”
“We believe this is a sound policy, and it should apply to face-to-face classes as well,” added Cua.
In an emergency meeting called by the President on Saturday to discuss the new variant of the Covid-19 virus, the President revoked an earlier order to the DepEd to pilot-test face-to-face classes in select areas in January next year.
At the meeting, the President said “I am cancelling the order given a few weeks ago to the education department; I am suspending the face-to-face classes among children.”