From economic woes to education

While seemingly the overall number of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases is on the downtrend, the Philippines is projected to end the year with a total of half a million of Filipinos being infected. The projections were based on the study of the OCTA Research Group of the University of the Philippines.

Actually, as early as July 22 this year when we had Albay Rep. Joey Salceda as featured guest in my virtual Kapihan sa Manila Bay, the resident economist of the 18th Congress boldly projected COVID-19 cases in the Philippines would reach as many as 500,000 by Dec. 31 this year. These projections were both based from science and data from epidemiologists, medical and other health experts gathered by Salceda who warned the pandemic would take longer period than previously anticipated.

Salceda likewise correctly projected earlier on that the Philippine economy will further shrink to as low as negative 6 to 10 percent for the rest of the year while COVID-19 cases rise to six-digit numbers. At that time the projection was made by Salceda, the Philippine economic growth have shrunk to near zero level for the first six months of this year.

With its economic impact a foregone conclusion, the debate and the arguments against stringent quarantine restrictions have shifted now to the fears and concerns on the adverse effects to the education of Filipino children and the rest of students all over the country. The Department of Education (DepEd) has reiterated that no face-to-face classes until otherwise President Rodrigo Duterte say so.

During the “Laging Handa” press briefing last week, Education Secretary Leonor Briones disclosed they are still crafting the report and recommendations they will submit to President Duterte amid intensified calls and demands from lawmakers, group of teachers as well as parents, and other sectors concerned to lift the ban on face-to-face classes.

Following the outbreak of the pandemic, President Duterte disallowed face-to-face classes in both public and private schools at all levels as among the measures to prevent the spread and transmission of COVID-19 infection. As a matter of policy adopted by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), President Duterte declared he would only allow the resumption of the face-to-face classes once anti-COVID-19 vaccine is developed to inoculate initially the school children as among the priority sectors of the country’s population.

Thus, the Dep-Ed came up with distance or blended learning methods which is a combination of online through the internet and modular or the distribution of printed modules for those in the elementary and secondary levels. The modular method has been under fire for a number of reported errors, if not outrageous content coming out in the social media. The online, on the other hand, still suffers connectivity problem from low signal to no internet access, especially in far-flung areas in the country. This is not to mention lack of resources of students and teachers to procure laptops, smart phones, and wifi.

For those in colleges and universities, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) allowed flexible learning using also online system. Yesterday, CHED chairman Prospero de Vera along with National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. led the inspection at Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) in Valenzuela City. According to De Vera, the ocular inspection is being done to help the CHED to craft the guidelines for the conduct of face-to-face classes in higher education institutions on case-to-case basis in areas where there are low COVID cases.

As of yesterday though, the Department of Health (DOH) reported the number of confirmed COVID cases nationwide jumped to 432,925 with the addition of 1,298 more people tested positive of this deadly flu-like infection. However, 92.1 percent of the total, or 398,782 people survived the COVID-19 infection and have already recuperated. It is sad to note that COVID-related deaths rose to 8,418 fatalities, or this is 1.94 percent of the total cases.

The national capital region remains the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the province of Ilocos Norte posted yesterday the biggest number of new cases with 84 people getting COVID-19 infection; Manila followed with 61; and the Quezon Province with 55. Laguna ranked fourth in the list of areas with the highest number of new cases with 50 while Negros Occidental placed fifth with 47.

Both DepEd Sec. Briones and CHED chairman De Vera are members of the IATF-MEID. On the other hand, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año publicly opposed the resumption of physical attendance to classes. For his part, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III is open to the possibility of allowing limited face-to-face classes only in areas with zero cases of COVID-19, or those considered at very low or minimal risk of transmission. Duque is the co-chairman of the IATF while Año is the co-chairman of the NTF.

But as far as Malacanang is concerned, presidential spokesman Harry Roque noted the proposed limited face-to-face classes was not taken up yet during the IATF meeting at Malacanang last Monday. However, Roque cited, there are already ongoing evaluation and talks of the proposal at the level of the IATF.

Galvez estimated the mass anti-COVID vaccination in the Philippines may likely take place reportedly by May 2021 at the earliest. The Christmas break for public elementary and high school students begins on Dec. 19. So they will all return to school on Jan. 3 next year still with no face-to-face classes.

The enhanced community quarantines have certainly kept in check the rise of COVID-19 contagion all over the country. Definitely, however, the consequences of the hard lockdowns that limited the mobility of people, goods and services have left its deep impact to the Philippine economy.

From economic woes to education, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rear its ugly head in our country.