Colleges and universities in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) may now conduct mass gatherings at limited capacities, Palace spokesman Harry Roque announced Saturday.
This came after Resolution No. 47 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases was approved yesterday, which amended the omnibus guidelines and deleted the prohibition on mass gatherings in higher education institutions (HEIs).
“Pinayagan na rin ang mass gathering sa [HEIs] ngunit kailangan silang sumunod sa existing guidelines sa ilalim ng MGCQ,” Roque said in Saturday’s Laging Handa briefing.
MGCQ guidelines only allow for at most 50 percent capacity of the venue where gatherings would be held.
Only mass gatherings for religious or work purposes at half capacity were allowed under MGCQ previously.
The IATF has also allowed the resumption of the technical-vocational education and training (TVET) of the Technical Educational Skills Development Authority (Tesda) under general community quarantine.
Training programs related to agriculture or fishery, qualifications for food production and processing, distance learning for TVET programs, e-learning component of blended learning for TVET programs and dual training system, enterprise-based training and in-plant trainings, as well as virtual assessment and portfolio assessment through electronic means were now allowed, provided minimum health standards are observed.
The resumption of TVET shall be consulted with local government units, Roque said.
Meanwhile, face-to-face classes in basic education facilities remain barred, as both President Rodrigo Duterte and Education Secretary Leonor Briones said no classes will be held until a Covid-19 vaccine is publicly available. (John Ezekiel Hirro)