City to allow limited physical classes in college level

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Wednesday confirmed that he will allow the return of limited face-to-face classes in all college degree programs in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the city.

Treñas told Daily Guardian via Viber that this was due to the recent developments in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, including booster shots for more vulnerable sectors and vaccinations of minors aged 12 to 17 years old.

The mayor will amend Executive Order No. 137, series of 2021, which allows only for limited face-to-face classes as approved by the national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).

Two HEIs in Iloilo City – West Visayas State University (WVSU) in La Paz and the University of San Agustin (USA) in City Proper – told Daily Guardian that they have been preparing to apply for permits for limited face-to-face classes in other programs prior to the announcement.

WVSU will be applying for permits for its Tourism Management program, while the USA will be applying for some programs under the College of Technology.

The USA administration added that given the mayor’s green light to open for all degree programs, they will remain with their plan to limit to medical-related courses and other programs previously allowed.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) had granted WVSU in October with certificates of authority for limited face-to-face classes in its Nursing and Medicine programs.

WVSU’s Nursing program has started laboratory-based classes for 4th year students last month.

The IATF-MEID on Tuesday, Nov. 16, issued Resolution No. 148-G, adopting the CHED’s two-phase system in allowing limited face-to-face classes.

All HEIs in areas under Alert Level 2 have been allowed to apply for Phase 1, which will be implemented in December 2021. Those in areas under Alert Level 3 are allowed for Phase 2, which will be implemented in January 2022.