MANILA, Philippines – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that it is still "safe" to resume classes in August even without a vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
During the hearing conducted by the Senate committee on health on Tuesday, Duque said it is safe for learners to continue their classes if the education sector and other stakeholders will ensure that minimum health standards would be followed.
He said, "Pag-aaralan po nating maigi ito. Sa ngayon, tingin namin, ligtas naman po kung bubuksan natin ang klase by August 24. Kinakailangan po dito, siguraduhin lamang na lahat ng ating minimum standards for health ay nakatalaga."
READ: DepEd releases school calendar for SY 2020-2021
"Ito po 'yung physical distancing, frequent washing of the hands, disinfection ng mga silid-aralan, at sinisiguro na ang alcohol, sanitizers andiyan din po," he added.
The health Secretary said that the Department of Education (DepEd) already has "many measures in place" to ensure that students will be safe.
READ: DepEd: School opening in August does not mean physical return
"We hope the vaccines will be available the soonest possible time. But habang wala pa, siguraduhin lang natin ang minimum health standards are met to mitigate the risks to our school children," Duque added.
Duque's statement contradicted the earlier statement of President Rodrigo Duterte who said he opposes the opening of classes in August. The President said he would rather wait for the development of COVID-19 vaccine than resume the opening of classes.
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Despite Duque's statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace will stand its ground that no physical classes will happen until a vaccine is available.
"Habang wala pang bakuna at habang wala pa tayo sa new normal — 'yung wala na pong community quarantine, hindi pa rin po tayo magkakaroon ng face-to-face na mga klase," Roque said in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.
READ: Enrollment in public schools to proceed on June 1 - Palace
— Sally, The Summit Express
During the hearing conducted by the Senate committee on health on Tuesday, Duque said it is safe for learners to continue their classes if the education sector and other stakeholders will ensure that minimum health standards would be followed.
He said, "Pag-aaralan po nating maigi ito. Sa ngayon, tingin namin, ligtas naman po kung bubuksan natin ang klase by August 24. Kinakailangan po dito, siguraduhin lamang na lahat ng ating minimum standards for health ay nakatalaga."
READ: DepEd releases school calendar for SY 2020-2021
"Ito po 'yung physical distancing, frequent washing of the hands, disinfection ng mga silid-aralan, at sinisiguro na ang alcohol, sanitizers andiyan din po," he added.
The health Secretary said that the Department of Education (DepEd) already has "many measures in place" to ensure that students will be safe.
READ: DepEd: School opening in August does not mean physical return
"We hope the vaccines will be available the soonest possible time. But habang wala pa, siguraduhin lang natin ang minimum health standards are met to mitigate the risks to our school children," Duque added.
Duque's statement contradicted the earlier statement of President Rodrigo Duterte who said he opposes the opening of classes in August. The President said he would rather wait for the development of COVID-19 vaccine than resume the opening of classes.
RELATED STORIES
Despite Duque's statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace will stand its ground that no physical classes will happen until a vaccine is available.
"Habang wala pang bakuna at habang wala pa tayo sa new normal — 'yung wala na pong community quarantine, hindi pa rin po tayo magkakaroon ng face-to-face na mga klase," Roque said in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.
READ: Enrollment in public schools to proceed on June 1 - Palace
— Sally, The Summit Express
For me, no vaccine for COVID19, no class!!
ReplyDeleteWhy do he always disagree with the facts that children are very vulnerable to covid and schools are not capable of controling them for the aocial distancing before and after the class? He no longer have the integrity to be heard after several remarks or statements he made as well as the way he handle the pandemic? Everytime he opens his mouth, senseless words always comes out. I hope that the government will order a gag order to this guy if he will not going to be fired.
ReplyDeleteI cant believe he thinks that it's "safe" to go to school while there's still a pandemic. Even if students follow the health standards there's still a possibility to catch the virus. DUQUE NOT BECAUSE YOU OWN A SCHOOL MAG PAPAYAMAN KA
ReplyDeleteWell,to the fact that the government have the funds to sustain the measures,still it's not 100 % that the students will not the catch the virus, there's no one in the government who can say that no student can catch the virus,it's invisible ,it's hard to come with,still the only chance we can stand on is to wait for the Vaccine ,stay at home ,stay positive in everyday life, not with the virus,we should wait for the Vaccine,I am student and I stand with our great president saying"No Covid-19 Vacc7",No Class",plss hear me out❣️❣️❣️
ReplyDeletepano ka makakasiguro mga mantanda nga hirap mg follow ng rules s social distancing nayan e yang mga bata pa kya n d nmn nila lubos na naiintindihan ang sitwasyon ����♀️
ReplyDeleteanu ba pinaglalaban ng tungaw na duque n yan? wala sya pakialam kahit magkasakit mga bata? tang ina mapapamura ka na lang sa kufal na yan eh. kahit makompromiso yung taon ng mga bata ang mahalaga ligtas sila.
ReplyDeleteFor me without vaccine no classes.
ReplyDeleteHmm, batang pasaway
ReplyDeleteAt lahat sasabay
Hanggang mamatay, Rawstarr
Dadalhin ko hanggang mamatay, uh
ang kulit mo ah, pag ako nagkacovid ikaw una kong yayakapin with feelings
ReplyDeletenung time na konti palang ang may cases ng covid kaming graduating hindi man lang nakaranas ng ceremony na almost 2yrs naming inantay tay ngayon na kumalat na sa buong mundo yang virus na yan nasasabi mo pang “SAFE” at itutuloy ang klase? how come? kung ganon din pala sana hinayaan nyo muna kaming gumraduate hindi man lang namin naranasan yung matagal naming inantay ganun kayo ka selfish
ReplyDeletewag kayo maniwala jan ipapahamak kayo nyan
ReplyDeletekung kailan pa tumaas ang number of positive new cases ng Covid 2019 tsaka sila mag GCQ????
ReplyDeleteKaya mo ba kaming ipagamot pag nagkacovid kami? Isa kang hangal ha di mo na inisip kalagayan namin
ReplyDeleteAy tanga lng.. ordinaryong mamayan nga hirap kyo controlin at may mga pasaway parin. Mga bata p kaya.. its natural for a kid na maging makulit kaya may chances of getting exposed sa virus..
ReplyDeleteAng Tangang Desisyon..Naturingan pa namang opisyales ng gobyerno..!!
ReplyDeleteOkie Lang daw kasi nakatago na sa bulsa an budjet na para sa tao Kaya ganun talga sila wla na sila pakialam sa tao mautak talaga heheh madiskarting magnanakaw ng bayan,
ReplyDeletepinapaalis na sa pwesto ayaw pa wala namang kabuluhan mga report at observation niya.. saan tayo susunod kasi magkaiba ang pananaw nila? kakalito!
ReplyDeleteBilang isang magaaral ako ay hindi sangaayon sa pagbubukas ng klase sa paparating na buwan ng agosto. Dapat mas unahin natin ang kapakanan ng mga mamamayan ng pilipinas sa gitna ng pandemya. Paano tayo makakasiguro na magiging ligtas ang pagpasok sa eskwelahan kung hanggang ngayon wala pa ring lunas o bakuna para sa COVID-19. Ang gobyerno ay marami nang kinakaharap na problema sa bansa, isa na sa pinakamalaking problema ay ang COVID-19. Mas kailangan nating pagtuunan ng pansin ang pagiging maingat at ligtas sa sakit kaysa sa pagbubukas ng klase ngayong agosto.
ReplyDelete