PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday commended the successful conduct of limited face-to-face classes in 28 public schools in the National Capital Region after nearly two years of school closure.

“I’m glad that they have thought of this just dahan-dahan lang, huwag masyadong mabilis kasi just the better part of prudence,” Duterte said in his pre-recorded public address.

He noted that more schools will be allowed to reopen once the assessment of the pilot program is “deemed successful” by yearend.

“Do not be dismayed kung hindi sa inyo muna because these are all experimental and pilot projects,” the President said.

Education Undersecretary Nepocumeno Malaluan earlier said that more schools might be allowed to hold limited in-person classes next year.

“Sana hindi magbago itong pag-trend ng ating pagmo-monitor. It’s been very positive and we are anticipating a recommendation towards expansion,” Malaluan said.

So far, there have been no reported cases of Covid19 among participating learners and school personnel during the first two weeks of in-person classes.

Around 100 public schools joined the pilot implementation of physical classes on November 15. A week later, 18 private schools also resumed in-person classes.

The DepEd allowed 177 more schools nationwide to join the pilot program.