BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Five municipalities are ready for the resumption of full face-to-face (F2F) classes, according to the head of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Negros Occidental.
Marsette Sabbaluca, schools division superintendent of Negros Occidental, identified them as the towns of E.B. Magalona, Don Salvador Benedicto, Pontevedra, Toboso, and Valladolid.
As of July 12, 252 of the 581 public elementary schools and 10 of the 117 private schools under the supervision of DepED-Negros Occidental Division are ready for in-person learning.
“Our data does not include those under the city schools division,” Sabbaluca said.
The division is preparing for in-learning classes using the School Safety Assessment Tool. It expects all schools to comply.
This is to ensure that when students return to school on August 22 “it is ready and safe”, she said, adding that “all schools should be open.”
However, the opening of classes will have different learning modalities, she said.
On Tuesday, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson met with Sabbaluca and Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, to discuss the readiness of public schools in the province for F2F classes.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier said he wanted the local government units to conduct a large-scale immunization drive for booster shots targeting schoolchildren so they can safely go back to school either August or September.
Marcos has revealed the government’s plan to resume full capacity in-person learning by November this year.
The Philippines currently allows coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination for ages five years old and up. It recently released guidelines for additional doses for 12 to 17 years old.
Sabbaluca also said there are still schools in Negros Occidental that need repairs after being badly hit by Super Typhoon “Odette” in December last year.
“We are very much grateful for the assistance provided by all stakeholders, especially the mayors, and other local government officials,” she said./PN
