No graduation ceremonies during COVID-19 outbreak, says DepEd chief Briones
MANILA, Philippines — Graduation and other end of the school year ceremonies are put on hold amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Monday.
In an interview with GMA’s Dobol B sa News TV, Briones said that the department is recommending to not hold graduation ceremonies, noting that it is not possible to conduct it in Luzon that is in extended lockdown until April 30.
In Visayas and Mindanao, Briones noted that “there are many local government that declared their own lockdown so we are discouraging it.”
A separate News5 report said that graduation ceremonies are merely suspended and not cancelled.
Postponed muna ang pagmamartsa, mga Kapatid. Pero nilinaw ni DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones na hindi kanselado at pino-postpone lang ang graduation at iba pang end-of-school rites. pic.twitter.com/8tDCk8w3gF
— News5 AKSYON (@News5AKSYON) April 13, 2020
The Education chief noted that this is not the first time that graduation ceremonies are not conducted since natural disasters also resulted in the postponements in the past.
But Briones assured that learners will still be able to receive their certificates and records in the school, but precautionary measures will be taken so parents, the elderly and the teachers would have to meet.
Schools opening
The Education chief explained that they are still studying whether schools opening would be moved to July or August.
“We will conduct surveys. We are consulting [stakeholders] because some want to move enrollment to July or August,” she said in Filipino.
But Briones said that if schools opening would be moved to July or August from June, it would be permanent.
She also noted that pushing back the schools opening would mean summer season, Holy Week would be covered by school days.
“We will make consultations first,” she added.
Briones earlier Monday announced she now tests negative for the novel coronavirus, a week after she said she contracted the disease. — Kristine Joy Patag with report from News5
Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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