Press Release
October 7, 2021

Gatchalian: Use 'alert levels' in opening schools

Alert levels that will be assigned to local government units (LGUs) should help determine what schools should be opened after the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes, Senator Win Gatchalian proposed.

"If businesses and industries can be managed by alert levels, I think school openings should also be based on alert levels. Because the concept here is to go back as normal as possible, and the alert levels give a granular approach to normalcy," Gatchalian said during a Senate hearing on the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes.

"Moving forward, to make it easier for everyone, just apply the alert levels as we are applying it to the business sector," he added.

Under the guidelines on the pilot implementation of alert levels system for COVID-19 response, there are five alert levels or quarantine classifications that may be assigned to cities or municipalities, with Alert Level 1 being the most relaxed and Alert Level 5 as the most stringent. Alert levels are determined based on factors such as case counts, transmission, as well as total bed utilization and intensive care unit utilization rates.

Gatchalian shared the example of Aklan, which is currently under Alert Level 2. Out of the 59 schools that so far got the green light to participate in limited face-to-face classes, only one is from Aklan. The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) are eyeing to have 120 schools---100 public schools and 20 private schools---to participate in the pilot test which is set to begin on November 15.

In the same hearing, Health Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire said that it is possible to use alert levels as a basis for school opening. The health official clarified, however, that looking at the alert level is only the first step since schools should still pass the assessment by the DOH. Another requirement is the concurrence of LGUs on conducting face-to-face classes.

In Adopted Resolution No. 92, which Gatchalian sponsored earlier this year, the Senate recommended that the Provincial, City and Municipal School Boards assume the task of assessing and recommending whether to reopen, adopt selective school or localized lockdowns, and resume face-to-face classes in their respective localities. The decision to reopen schools or impose localized lockdowns should take into consideration local conditions and resources.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture also reiterated the need to completely vaccinate teachers and minors aged 12-17 to mitigate the risk of infection when in-person learning resumes.

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Gatchalian: 'Alert levels' sa LGUs gawing basehan sa pagbubukas ng mga paaralan

Ipinapanukala ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang paggamit sa mga alert levels sa mga local government units (LGUs) bilang posibleng basehan ng pagbubukas ng mga paaralan. Ayon sa mambabatas, ang pagsangguni sa mga alert levels sa pagbubukas ng mga paaralan ay maaaring isagawa pagkatapos ipatupad ang pilot testing ng limited face-to-face classes.

"Kung ang mga negosyo at mga industriya ay maaari nang magbukas depende sa mga alert level, dapat gawin din itong basehan sa pagbubukas ng mga paaralan. Ang layunin natin ay makabalik tayo sa normal hangga't maaari at ang mga alert levels ay nagbibigay ng mabusising gabay sa ating pagbabalik-normal," pahayag ni Gatchalian sa nakaraang pagdinig ukol sa pilot testing ng limited face-to-face classes.

"Upang maging mas madali para sa ating lahat, gamitin na rin natin ang alert levels sa pagbubukas ng mga paaralan tulad ng ginagawa natin sa mga negosyo," sabi ng senador.

Sa ilalim ng guidelines ng pilot implementation ng alert level system, may limang alert level na maaaring italaga sa mga lungsod o munisipalidad. Ang Alert Level 1 ang pinakamaluwag samantalang ang Alert Level 5 ang pinakamahigpit. Sa ilalim ng naturang sistema, ang mga datos tulad ng bilang ng kaso ng COVID-19, transmission rate, pati na rin ang total bed at intensive care unit utilization, ay sinusuri bago magtalaga ng alert level sa isang lugar. Ibinahagi ni Gatchalian ang halimbawa ng Aklan na kasalukuyang nasa Alert Level 2. Sa halos animnapung (59) paaralang napiling lumahok sa limited face-to-face classes, isa lamang ang nagmula sa naturang probinsya. Balak ng Department of Education (DepEd) at ng Department of Health (DOH) na mamili ng isang daang (100) paaralan mula sa mga pampublikong mga paaralan at dalawampu (20) mula sa mga pribadong paaralan para sa limited face-to-face classes. Nakatakdang simulan ang naturang pilot testing sa Nobyembre 15.

Sa parehong pagdinig, ipinaliwanag ni Health Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire na posibleng maging basehan ang mga alert levels sa pagbubukas ng mga paaralan. Ngunit paglilinaw ng opisyal na ang alert level ay isang hakbang lamang dahil kailangan pa ring makapasa ang mga paaralan sa assessment ng DOH. Dapat din aniyang may pahintulot ng LGU ang mga paaralang lalahok sa face-to-face classes.

Sa Adopted Resolution no. 92 na isinulong ni Gatchalian noong unang bahagi ng taon, inirekomenda ng Senado na bigyan ng kapangyarihan ang Provincial, City, at Municipal School Boards na suriin at irekomenda ang muling pagbubukas, pagpapatupad ng selective school o localized lockdowns, at muling pagkakaroon ng face-to-face classes sa kanilang mga nasasakupan. Batay sa resolusyon, ang pagpapatupad ng mga localized lockdowns ay dapat nakabatay sa kakayahan at sitwasyon ng isang LGU.

Muli ring idiniin ni Gatchalian ang kahalagahan ng pagbabakuna sa mga guro at mga menor de edad na may edad na labindalawa (12) hanggang labing-pito (17) upang mapigilan ang hawaan ng COVID-19.

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