Pangilinan to DepEd: Ensure protection for teachers, students during pandemic school year

SENATOR Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan calls on the Department of Education (DepEd) to provide protection and assistance for teachers as they put their life on the line in the distribution of learning modules to students amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

"Ang daming sakripisyo ng ating mga titser. Our public school teachers are staking their lives to ensure that the learning process of Filipino students will not be interrupted by the pandemic," said Pangilinan.

"The best thing for DepEd to do is to provide enough protection and assistance for our teachers as they perform their job," the lawmaker added.

Pangilinan issued this call after 11 public school teachers tested positive for the virus after distributing educational modules in Ilagan City, Isabela.

It was reported that a 13-year-old boy, who was a recipient of the educational module, also tested positive.

In line with this, Pangilinan urged authorities and concerned government offices to enhance contact tracing efforts on those who had close encounter with the teachers so as to quickly contain the spread of the virus.

"Kailangan ng mabilis na pagkilos upang maagapan ang sitwasyon at mapigil ang pagkalat ng sakit sa mga komunidad," he said.

The senator also reminded teachers to always practice minimum health protocols when they go out to distribute the learning materials to students.

"Mabuti na ang sigurado, kaya magandang tiyakin na sinusunod natin ang health protocols para sa ating kaligtasan pati na ng ating mga estudyante," he pointed out.