Requirements needed to use schools as quarantine areas

CEBU, Philippines — Prior to using schools as quarantine areas, mayors must comply with documentary requirements from government agencies.

This was the reminder of Department of Education-7 Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez to concerned stakeholders during a multi-sectorial meeting held at the Cebu Provincial Capitol yesterday. In attendance were local government chiefs of Cebu.

The meeting was streamed via Facebook live by Sugbo News, the official news arm of the Capitol Public Information Office.

According to Jimenez, DepEd sees the local government units as its strongest partner in combating COVID-19 but there are requirements laid down by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Health (DOH) that must be met before it could formally allow the use of public schools.

With this, he noted that there have been requests from Cebu LGUs that have been returned by the DepEd regional office for the lack of documentary requirements.

"So far, there are requests. Actually, they are not disapproved but we returned so that they will comply with some of the requirements," Jimenez told the mayors.

"Actually, it is not necessarily DepEd’s requirements but those requirements are DILG issuance and also DOH," he added.

Under the guidelines, mayors must acquire a certification from the DOH or their respective municipal or city health personnel that the identified school meets the requirements for quarantine areas or isolation areas of DOH, and a certification from their respective DepEd district supervisor or the school principal stating that there are no other government facilities that can be used instead.

They should also sign the conforme portion bearing the terms and conditions of the use of the schools.

Jimenez further expounded that a DILG issuance states that public schools should be used as quarantine areas only as a last resort.

DILG Memorandum Circular 2020-064 enjoins mayors to identify government facilities in their localities that could be converted as quarantine facilities or isolation facilities.

So far, Jimenez said DepEd-7 has received requests from seven LGUs in the province, four of which have been approved. DepEd is still waiting on the other three to comply with the requirements.

He also said that he has instructed district superintendents and DepEd personnel to be in close coordination with the local government chiefs.  JMD (FREEMAN)