The order signed Wednesday (March 2) by Mayor Sara Duterte cited the continuous decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases in the city as well as the city’s active vaccination rollout as reasons why the city will no longer object to applications for face-to-face classes.
“There is a need to bolster the reopening of schools for face-to-face classes to ensure continuity of academic instruction as we transition to the new normal," the EO said.
It also cited that Davao City is currently at 85.93 percent for first doses and 84 percent for second doses of 80 percent of the city's total population. The city is also at 16.34 percent for booster shots out of the total number of fully-vaccinated individuals as of February 28, 2022.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution Number 163-A, dated February 17,2022, placed the city under Alert Level 1 status effective March 1,2022.
Duterte, however, emphasized that the schools will still be observing the minimum public health standards, especially the wearing of face masks and physical distance.
“Guidelines from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and other relevant government agencies must also be followed,” the order further stated.
Department of Education (DepEd) 11 spokesman Jenielito Atillo, meanwhile in an interview with MIN Stream media said that a school has to be validated first if they are compliant of the standards for the safety assessment rule set by the department such as the readiness of its facilities and the preparedness of their teachers before allowing them to conduct the face-to-face classes.
He said there must also be a written consent from the parents if they are allowing their children to participate in the face-to-face learning modality.
According to Atillo, only those vaccinated teachers will be allowed to teach for the face-to-face classes.