Senator Bong Go urged Thursday to move the opening of classes in October to ensure everyone’s readiness and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Umaapela ako sa Executive branch na kung maaari ay i-postpone muna ng ilan pang buwan ang pagbubukas ng klase habang wala pang bakuna sa COVID-19. Huwag nating isugal ang buhay at kaligtasan ng ating mga kabataan,” Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, said in a statement.
(I appeal to the Executive branch to, if possible, postpone the opening of the class for a few more months while there is no COVID-19 vaccine yet. Let us not gamble on the lives and safety of our youth.)
Bong Go added the postponement would give students, teachers, and parents a little more time to adapt to distance learning.
“Karamihan sa atin hirap pa mag-transition sa alternative modes tulad ng online transactions at online learning. Ang internet hindi rin reliable, tapos ‘yung offline modes of learning naman pinaghahandaan pa rin,” he said.
(Most of us have a hard time transitioning to alternative modes such as online transactions and online learning. The internet is also not reliable, and the offline modes of learning are still being prepared.)
Bong Go wants school opening pushed to October
“Kung hindi pa handa, huwag nating pilitin. Magiging kawawa ang mga estudyante, kawawa ang mga teachers. Hirap na po ang mga Pilipino, huwag na nating dagdagan pa ng pressure ang mga bata at mga magulang nila,” Bong Go addded.
(If it is not ready yet, let us not force it. Students will be miserable, teachers will be miserable. Filipinos are already struggling; let’s not put more pressure on their children and parents.)
Senator Sherwin Sherwin Gatchalian and Francis Tolentino appealed on Wednesday for the postponement of classes in areas under MECQ.
Senator Francis Tolentino, meanwhile, reminded the DepEd that it has only 168 hours left to draft the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of school opening.
He urged the education authorities to consider allowing high-risk areas to open classes at a later date.
However, Education Secretary Leonor Briones insisted Wednesday that the opening of classes on August 24 would push through despite appeals from different sectors and implementation of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in some areas.