ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas issued Executive Order (EO) No. 63 declaring no objection to all applications for face-to-face classes in public and private schools here.
The city government is interposing no any objection to in-persons classes and other learning activities provided that public safety standards against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are followed.
Treñas stressed the need to resume face-to-face classes because the children’s education online and through modular lessons seems not working very well.
He also cited the Department of Health’s (DOH) concurrence to face-to-face classes, acknowledging that in-person attendance in school will allow children to develop cognitive and social skills experientially.
“Predicated on the continuous decrease in the number of (COVID-19) cases in the city as well as its active vaccination rollout, there is a need to support mechanisms in the education sector particularly in the resumption of face-to-face classes aligned with the appropriate approaches to ensure continuity of learning towards the new normal,” part of EO 63 dated June 30, 2022 read.
Iloilo City is under COVID-19 Alert Level 1.
Based on the guidelines on the nationwide implementation of alert level systems for COVID-19 response, as of June 4, 2022 the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) allows full 100 percent capacity under Alert Level 1, subject to the presentation of proof of full vaccination before participating in mass gatherings or entry into indoor establishments.
Meantime, as of June 29, 2022 the Department of Health (DOH) – Regional Vaccination Operations Center reported Iloilo City to have achieved an inoculation rate of 127.31 percent for fully-vaccinated individuals with 39 percent of said population having received their booster doses.
On the other hand, the EO emphasized that subject to relevant issuances set by the IATF and DOH, strict implementation of the Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS) must still be observed in schools and educational institutions such as wearing of face masks and physical distancing – as well as the adherence to guidelines that may be issued by the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and other relevant government agencies./PN
