ILOILO City – No pandemic health protocols were violated, insisted Director Ramir Uytico of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Region 6.
The regional director and other DepEd-6 employees were earlier reported to have convened for an activity in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan despite another staff being positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The activity was a launching of the Philippines’ first-ever School Heads Academy on July 23.
DepEd-6 was called out by Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas after having been informed about it.
The mayor subsequently directed Police Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, director of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), to look into the matter.
“We will not allow transgressions of the minimum health protocols no matter what or how high your position is,” Treñas said.
Uytico said, “We (respect) the investigative process.”
“Rest assured that this office and I (will) obediently submit to the fact-finding investigation,” he added.
ALLEGED VIOLATION
In an interview over DYRI RMN-Iloilo over the weekend, Dr. Lea Belleza, spokesperson of DepEd-6, confirmed that an employee at the office of Uytico tested positive for COVID-19.
However, the regional director and the personnel who attended the Boracay event were not tagged as close contacts, Belleza stressed.
Three other co-employees were identified as close contacts but they tested negative for COVID-19, she added. These employees were home quarantined.
Belleza said Uytico was also not exposed to people “kay nagpauli man pagkahapon sa Iloilo City.”
Their team also complied with Boracay’s entry requirements as authorized persons outside residence (APORs).
UYTICO WARNS VS ‘INFODEMIC’
With the issue making the rounds on the “airwaves and social media”, the regional education director lamented that the threats brought about by the pandemic “are exacerbated by infodemic – an outbreak of overabundant false and unverified information, which spreads like wildfire.”
“Despite attempts to maliciously discredit our efforts to serve, we shall continue to deliver the best service that every champion deserves,” Uytico said.
He added that adherence to health protocols is “non-negotiable”.
“As your regional director and as a champion of the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan, I am fully aware of my moral responsibility to lead by example; thus I dutifully observe and practice these protocols without questions and reservations. Likewise, I do not condone any breach of the same,” Uytico added.
Moreover, he said he had “lessons learned, insights gained and personalities known that made me a stronger and better education leader.”/PN
