Gatchalian reminds school officials: strictly enforce health protocols, alternative work arrangements

To prevent the uptick of COVID-19 cases now that teachers and non-teaching staff are expected be out in the field to distribute modules or report to their respective schools, Senator Win Gatchalian urged public school officials to strictly enforce the Department of Education's (DepEd) alternative work arrangements and health protocols to make teachers and personnel less vulnerable to infection.

Gatchalian made this call after 10 high school teachers in Ilagan City, Isabela tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a meeting. Two students also contracted the virus. Ilagan City is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until October 16.

For Gatchalian, what happened in Ilagan should remind school officials to uphold the safety of teachers, other school personnel, and students to avoid the spread of COVID-19. He pointed out that since tasks such as the printing and distribution of SLMs put teachers and non-teaching staff at risk, they should be equipped with "back-to-school" essentials such as masks, face shields, and personal protective equipment (PPE). He also reiterated that should teachers and staff contract COVID-19, their health care needs should be given immediate attention.

"Ngayong nagsimula na ang klase, lalo nating dapat tutukan ang kalusugan ng bawat guro at non-teaching staff lalo na't sila ang nagsisilbing mga frontliners sa pagpapatupad ng distance learning sa gitna ng pandemya," said Gatchalian.

DepEd Order No. 011 s. 2020 identifies alternative work arrangements such as work-from-home, skeleton workforce, four-day workweek, and staggered working hours.

In areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), which is the quarantine status of most areas in the Philippines, schools and DepEd offices may operate at full operational capacity as may be allowed by required health standards, including physical distancing protocols.

In areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) like Metro Manila, however, personnel reporting physically for work should not exceed 50 percent.

To help with early detection of possible COVID-19 cases, DepEd's required health standards, which are outlined in DepEd Order No. 014 s. 2020, mandate schools and offices to have a provision of referral services that will link learners, teachers, and personnel to the appropriate health facilities.

Under its required health standards, DepEd is also tasked to coordinate with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and work out a possible institutional arrangement. Since classes are in full swing, Gatchalian said that an arrangement between DepEd and PhilHealth should already be operational to inspire and sustain the confidence of teachers and non-teaching staff in the roll-out of distance learning.

"Kailangang siguruhin natin ang kanilang kaligtasan sa kanilang pagtatrabaho at kung sakali namang tamaan sila ng sakit, dapat matiyak natin na makatatanggap sila ng agarang tulong medikal," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

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Paalala ni Gatchalian sa mga paaralan: sundin ang health protocols at alternative work arrangements

Pinaalalahanan ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang mga paaralan na maging mahigpit sa pagpapatupad ng mga alternative work arrangements at health protocols upang mapanatili ang kaligtasan ng mga guro at kawani ngayong nagbukas na ang klase. Hindi kasi maiiwasan ang paglabas-labas nila para mamigay ng learning modules o baka kailanganin nilang pumasok sa kanilang mga eskwelahan.

Kamakailan ay naiulat na may sampung guro sa isang high school sa lungsod ng Ilagan, Isabela ang nagpositibo sa COVID-19 matapos dumalo ng isang pagpupulong. Dalawang mag-aaral din ang naiulat na nagpositibo sa COVID-19. Ang lungsod ay nasa ilalim ng Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine o MECQ hanggang ika-16 ng Oktubre.

Para kay Gatchalian, ang nangyari sa Ilagan ay dapat magsilbing aral sa mga opisyal ng mga paaralan na itaguyod ang kaligtasan ng mga guro, kawani, at mga mag-aaral upang mapigilan ang pagkalat ng sakit. Ayon sa senador, maituturing na banta sa kaligtasan ng mga guro at kawani ng mga paaralan ang mga gawain tulad ng pagpapa-imprenta at pagpapamahagi ng mga self-learning modules o SLMs. Kaya dapat aniyang bigyan ang mga guro ng "back-to-school essentials" tulad ng mga masks, face shields, at personal protective equipment o mga PPE.

Dagdag ng mambabatas, dapat ding mabigyan ng agarang tulong medikal ang mga guro at mga kawani na magpopositibo sa COVID-19.

"Ngayong nagsimula na ang klase, lalo nating dapat tutukan ang kalusugan ng bawat guro at non-teaching staff lalo na't sila ang nagsisilbing mga frontliners sa pagpapatupad ng distance learning sa gitna ng pandemya," ani Gatchalian. Nakasaad sa DepEd Order No. 011 s. 2020 ang mga itinuturing na alternative work arrangements katulad ng work-from-home, skeleton workforce, four-day workweek, at staggered working hours.

Sa mga lugar na nasa ilalim ng modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), ang mga paaralan at tanggapan ng DepEd ay maaari nang magpatakbo ng full operational capacity basta masunod ang mga required health standards, kabilang ang physical distancing.

Sa mga lugar na nasa ilalim ng General Community Quarantine (GCQ), hindi dapat lalagpas sa kalahati (50 porysento) ng mga kawani ng isang tanggapan ang maaaring pumasok sa isang araw.

Sa ilalim naman ng DepEd Order No. 014 s. 2020 kung saan nakalagay ang mga required health standards ng kagawaran, nakasaad na dapat tumulong ang mga paaralan na idulog sa mga angkop na pagamutan at pasilidad ang mga mag-aaral, mga guro, at kawaning nangangailangan ng tulong medikal.

Nakasaad din sa naturang DepEd Order na dapat magkaroon ng ugnayan ang kagawaran sa PhilIppine Health Insurance Corporation o PhilHealth. Ayon kay Gatchalian, dapat ay kasado na ang ugnayang ito upang mapanatili ang kumpiyansa ng mga guro at non-teaching staff sa pagpapatupad ng distance learning.

"Kailangang siguruhin natin ang kanilang kaligtasan sa kanilang pagtatrabaho at kung sakali namang tamaan sila ng sakit, dapat matiyak natin na makatatanggap sila ng agarang tulong medikal," pahayag ng Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.