President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shares a light moment with Education Secretary Leonor Briones and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez on the sidelines of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa opening ceremony at the Davao City-UP Sports Complex on April 28, 2019. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
The Department of Education on Friday said only President Rodrigo Duterte can make the ruling on the resumption of face-to-face classes.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said her agency had been consistent in submitting reports to Duterte on the country’s current learning situation and studies and recommendations on the conduct of limited face-to-face classes.
“Iyon ay pronouncement ng president,” Briones said in a Laging Handa briefing.
“Ang commitment [ng DepEd] sa president… sinabi na namin na gagawa kami, magsusumite kami ng report kung ano ang ating karanasan sa pagbukas ng klase last Oct. 5 at ang mga issues na lumalabas, isa na dito iyong possibility of limited face to face,” she added.
Briones said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Department of Health were more likely to influence Duterte’s decision on the matter.
“Sasabihin ko na wala kaming authority na mag-reverse ng desisyon ng ating pangulo,” the education chief added.
Briones said even considering the possible start of the country’s Covid-19 vaccination program in 2021, reopening face-to-face classes would be risky.
“Iyong availability ng vaccines, regular naman iyan na nire-report ng ating IATF, ng ating czar para sa vaccine. It seems na hindi naman ganoon kadali considering na we have a population of 100 million na masigurado natin na safe na at lahat ng Pilipino ay magkaroon na ng vaccine,” she explained. John Ezekiel J. Hirro