3-day school week? No objections from Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday did not object to the proposed implementation of a three-day school week in some schools in Metro Manila to address overcrowding.

Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) head Herminio Coloma Jr. said the proposal was laid out by the Department of Education (DepEd) and school officials as one solution to the lack of classrooms and school facilities.

"Sa aking pagkaunawa, 'yan ang mismong paraan na inilatag ng Department of Education at ng mga ilang superintendent of schools para matugunan 'yung kanilang kongkretong sitwasyon, na sa halip na magiging siksikan nga, ang ginawa nila ay in-adjust nila ‘yung time para mabigyan ng sapat na oras at sapat na lugar at sapat na pasilidad lahat," Coloma said in a press briefing.

"Kaya ito ay pinapatupad o ipapatupad sa isang paraan na magiging responsive or tutugon doon sa kongkretong sitwasyon sa bawat paaralan at sa bawat lugar," Coloma added.

Coloma said the DepEd under the Aquino administration has been addressing the backlog in school resources after building 66,213 classrooms and providing 2.5 million chairs and tables and 61.7 million textbooks.

But Coloma also admitted that there is still a lack of school facilities and resources, especially since the country was hit by disasters last year.

"Nandoon na ‘yung natural wear-and-tear ng mga facilities, ano, at tinamaan din sila ng ibang kalamidad o disgrasya. Kaya't patuloy naman ang pagsisikap ng ating Department of Education sa pagtugon sa mga suliranin na 'yan," Coloma said.