DepEd asked: End school year early

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Board is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to consider ending the current academic year early in light of the spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.

This is stipulated in a resolution the Board passed during its regular session. The resolution also asks DepEd to consider home assignments and performance tasks students can do in lieu of attending classes in school.

The resolution is authored by Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) Provincial Federation President Celestino Martinez III, an ex-officio member of the Board.

As provided by DepEd Order 007 Series of 2019, Academic Year 2019-2020 is set to close this April 3, 2020.

The board also passed a second resolution, which invites DepEd and the Department of Health (DOH) to a meeting with board members at the Office of the Vice Governor next Monday, March 16, at 11 a.m.

The meeting is meant to discuss precautionary measures against COVID-19 that DepEd is undertaking, and to discuss updates of the disease.

For her part, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced that inter-school meets like the Central Visayas Athletics Association (CVIRAA) meet have been postponed.

“We further requested that other off-campus activities be rescheduled or discouraged,” she added.

And as a means of ensuring the safety of students in the public schools in the province, Vitamin C will be distributed by DoH.

Cebu City

In Cebu City, Mayor Edgardo Labella said classes will not be suspended just yet until local transmission is found.

This despite schools in Manila already suspending classes owing to the rise of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. As of yesterday, the DOH confirmed 33 local cases.

He emphasized, however, that protocol issued by DOH will be implemented strictly.

“There will be, up to this moment, no suspension of classes because we will just have to follow the protocol of the task force,” Labella said yesterday.

His directive, as far as implementation of protocol is concerned, is for barangays to be involved in upholding sanitation in public spaces, and reminding residents of its importance.

He issued Memorandum No. 2020-216, which mandates a massive clean-up of public markets, in coordination with the City Health Office, Cebu City Market, and City Environment and Natural Resources Office as part of the city government’s effort against COVID-19.

“Among other things, the most important are hygiene, sanitation, and cleanliness. That’s why I urged that the wet market should be sanitized, disinfected, and cleaned thoroughly,” Labella said.

Services at City Hall will also continue and thermal scanners have been purchased so that every person entering the building can be checked.

Dr. Daisy Villa, city health officer, said that as of 11 a.m. yesterday, the city is monitoring 29 people but no one here is under investigation.

She said they are monitoring senior citizens since most of the confirmed cases involved senior citizens. She encouraged those in this age group to visit health centers to be checked. JMO (FREEMAN)