Perspective! Good collaboration

MOISES M. LOPEZ III

The program for face-to-face classes which the administration delegated to the Department of Education is a responsibility of three main agencies, with DepEd as the main implementing agency.

The other two agencies are the Department of Health, as its partner on health issues and risk assessment reports, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), a key stakeholder for the progressive expansion since face-to-face classes cannot commence in the areas declared as Level 1&2 and without the consent of local government units.

The DepEd has cited the good collaboration of the three agencies in implementing the guidelines of limited face-to-face classes and vaccination.

With the expansion phase of face-to-face classes starting this month of February, the DepEd is continuously adopting its shared responsibility framework by working with DOH and DILG, which aims to ensure that policies to protect education stakeholders are streamlined among the three agenci es.

All regional directors have been authorized to commence the progressive expansion phase of face-to-face classes for both public and private school s.

The working arrangement with DOH is also important on the vaccination program of the government.

Between DepEd and DOH, DepEd is responsible for matters of policy development, information campaigns, capacity buildings, and actual learning delivery. On matters of health issues, it is the DOH which is responsible, officials noted.

In addition, they reiterated that DepEd also complies with national policies followed by all public institutions, including guidelines on unvaccinated individuals. --oOo-The author is Master Teacher I at President Elpidio Quirino National High School La Union Schools Division Office