No in-person classes in Ilocos schools

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines — No school in Ilocos region will participate in the pilot implementation of in-person classes to start on Nov. 15.

Only 30 schools nationwide will push through with limited face-to-face classes, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Cesar Bucsit, head of the public affairs unit of the Department of Education regional office, said the DOH has identified several schools that may conduct face-to-face classes subject to validation by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, DOH and DepEd.

The Don Domingo Magno Elementary School in Pozorrubio and Longos Elementary School in Alaminos in Pangasinan, which are classified as low risk for COVID-19, are among the schools where  face-to-face classes may be allowed.

Ten public schools, which are classified as low-risk, and two at minimal risk, all in Ilocos Norte, are also being considered.

Bucsit said 57 schools in the region were initially identified for the program.

“Still for validation because DOH-Region 1 is the one assessing the situation,” he said.

Ilocos Sur and La Union are the other provinces which comprise Ilocos region.

Bucsit said more schools may be added to the list subject to the quarantine classification in their areas.

DepEd officials said the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes would be from kindergarten to senior high school in areas classified as low risk for COVID-19.

Assessment of the initial run of the program is set from Nov. 15 to Dec. 22; end of pilot study, Jan. 31, 2022; evaluation, February 2022, and presentation to President Duterte of the pilot report and proposed expansion, March 7, 2022.