No vaccine, no classes – lawmaker

A LEADER at the House of Representatives want classes in all levels to remain suspended until a vaccine for the coronavirus disease 20Q9 (Covid-Q9) becomes available.

Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. filed House Resolution 876 directing the Department of Education ( DepEd), Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to stop the physical opening of classes and prohibit face-to-face classes, school events and activities, and technical vocational education and skills training in senior high school in all public and private schools and state and local colleges and universities.

The bill seeks to stop the DepEd from implementing its order setting the official opening of classes on August 24.

Gonzales maintained that classes must be suspended “until and unless a vaccine against Covid-Q9 has been discovered and included in the Philippine national drug formulary.”

Although DepEd encourages distance and online learning, the lawmaker argued that this was not possible in the provinces where telecommunications signals were weak.

He added that internet and mobile phone communication was not reliable even in many urbanized cities and towns.

“Face-to-face classes would have to be conducted sooner than later if we want our children to learn. And here lies the problem, since it would be hard to require physical distancing in classrooms, especially in public schools where a class is composed of no fewer than 40 students,” he said

Gonzales also invoked the constitutional provision mandating the state to protect the health of its citizens in seeking the postponement of the reopening of schools.

“With the growing Covid-Q9 threat, which is still present and imminent to the safety of our citizens, especially our children, it is imperative that we take all precautions and preventive actions to protect our people from the disease,” he said.