City Hall, Capitol nix class opening in August

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. are willing to forego the opening of classes in August 2020 as recommended by the Department of Education (DepEd) to avoid risking the safety and health of students amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.

Treñas said there is a great possibility of COVID-19 transmission in schools as physical distancing might be impossible.

“I will not encourage the children to go. Kay te kabalo man kita may virus na da. It’s really because of the great possibility nga maglinatnanay kita. Kon indi gid ang mga ginikanan indi ta pagpliliton. Ano gid na kon mag-lose kita one year sang sa imo na kabuhi,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Defensor shared Treñas’ view saying that the province should focus on surviving COVID-19.

“Pwede man na kahulat ang aton mga eskwelahan. Ano gid bala ang dako nga risgo ang himon mo para sa pag-eskwela sang kabataan ta? Kon ako lang ya ang pamangkuton, I will forego 2020. Let us focus on surviving this,” he said in a radio interview.

All classes in Iloilo province and Iloilo City have been suspended since March amid the pandemic.
Recently, DepEd announced that the opening of classes will be moved to August 24, 2020.

In its Executive Order No. 075-B which amended EO No. 075 or the implementing guidelines of General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in Iloilo City, Treñas mandated all academic institutions in Iloilo City to comply with the Revised Omnibus Guidelines set by the national Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) on COVID-19.

For Academic Year 2020-2021, opening of classes for the basic education shall be on August 24, 2020 and ends on April 30, 2021

Opening of private schools will be allowed within the period, provided that school learning continuity plan shall be submitted.

Moreover, no face-to-face classes will be allowed earlier than August 24, 2020.

Face-to-face learning shall only be allowed when the local risk severity grading permits and subject to compliance with minimum health standards

Adoption of various learning delivery options such as but not limited to face-to-face, blended learnings, distance learnings, and homeschooling, and other modes of delivery shall be implemented depending on the local Covid Risk Severity Classification and compliance with minimum health standards

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recommended that higher education institutions (HEIs) can start classes if they use full online education.

HEIs using flexible learning can open anytime in August 2020 while those using significant residential (face-to-face) mode can open not earlier than September 1, 2020.

Private HEIs are encouraged to change their academic calendars and open in August 2020.