Bong Go urges gov't to thoroughly study options for conduct of classes in schools; reiterates that children must not be put at risk as vaccination must be priority prior to resumption of face-to-face classes

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has encouraged the national government to thoroughly study the planned conduct of pilot face-to-face classes in schools, expressing reservations because most students have not yet been vaccinated.

"Pag-aralan po ng mabuti, isa 'yun sa ide-discuss ni Pangulong Duterte dahil may proposal po ang ating DepEd (Department of Education) at saka 'yung CHED (Commission on Higher Education)," said Go during his personal visit to flood victims in Biñan City, Laguna on Friday, September 10.

President Rodrigo Duterte, according to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, may accept a planned pilot test for in-person classes in 120 schools, Malacanang reported earlier. The suggested limited face-to-face classes have been approved in principle by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease, which would be presented to the president.

According to Roque, the government is also approaching it as an "economic problem" because the country is dealing with "a generation that could possibly be lost" due to limitations of hybrid learning.

Go expressed reservations about holding physical classes considering that younger students have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19. He emphasized his position that face-to-face classes may only be limited to fully vaccinated individuals.

"Sa mga bata, takot talaga ako.. unang-una hindi sila bakunado. Pangalawa, hindi natin kontrolado 'yung galaw nila," said Go.

"Pangatlo, back to zero na naman tayo (kung magkahawahan sa eskwela), tumataas 'yung kaso, may Delta cases, mahirap po. So dapat po balansehin muna ang lahat, unahin natin ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino," he added.

Fully vaccinated students, on the other hand, may be permitted more movement, according to the senator. Go previously stated his support for offering incentives to fully vaccinated population in order to urge more Filipinos, particularly those who are still hesitant, to obtain their COVID-19 doses.

"Maybe 'pag bakunado. Bigyan po natin ng insentibo 'yung bakunado para ma-enganyo po 'yung mga kababayan natin na magpabakuna. Dapat po bigyan ng insentibo gaya dito kay Mayor, 'yung mga senior citizens nila, 'pag bakunado, nakakalabas," said Go.

"Siguro ganoon din po sa national na puwedeng pag-aralan, 'pag bakunado kana puwede ka ng... face-to-face classes, 'yung mga college students dahil more or less protektado po sila... ito pong mga college students, lalong-lalo na po 'yung mga (magiging) professionals, mga doctor, 'yung mga nurses para po makapag tapos at makapagserbisyo na dahil... the more na we need professional and medical workers right now," he added.

Go urged the government and private sector to come up with creative ways to motivate individuals to help the country attain population protection and herd immunity as soon as possible as vaccines become more widely available.

Go also backed the mayors of the National Capital Region's suggestion to waive some of the restrictions for fully vaccinated people.

The Metro Manila Council of the Metro Manila Development Authority filed an appeal on Thursday, September 9, seeking the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to relax the COVID-19 Guidelines for people who have been fully vaccinated, pending further study and consultation.

Karl Chua, the Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning and the head of the National Economic and Development Authority, also indicated support for the "Bakuna Bubble" pilot in the NCR during a Senate hearing on the same day.

"Kung ma-relax natin konti ang mga restrictions at ibang protocols para sa bakunado na, inaasahan natin na mas maraming sektor ng ekonomiya ang mabubuksan. Mas maraming mga kababayan natin ang makapaghanapbuhay muli at makabalik sa kani-kanilang mga trabaho. Ibig sabihin, mas maraming pamilya ang makabangon mula sa hirap na dulot ng pandemya," Go explained.

"Subalit dahan-dahan nating gawin ito. Huwag nating biglaing buksan lahat kaagad, baka naman tumaas ang bilang ng mga kaso at mahihirapan na naman ang ating healthcare system. Ayaw nating mag-back to zero na naman tayo. Kaya maingat lang dapat nating balansehin ang buhay at kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino," Go cautioned.