SENATOR Pia Cayetano on Friday called on  the Department of Education to intensify its campaign in convincing local government units to allow schools to hold face-to-face classes and ensure that children will not be left behind.

During the virtual hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture on DepEd’s pilot implementation of the limited face-to-face classes, Cayetano cited the observations of some international organizations and the DepEd that some LGUs were hesitant to open schools.

“I’d like to see more efforts in engagement.  Of course, we can’t force them but we need the LGUs to be willing partners here, and we really need to exert more effort, more engagement because otherwise, they will be responsible for the children in their locality being left behind because of their refusal to be open about these things,’ Cayetano said.

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary RJ Echiverri gave assurances that they are in constant coordination with school administrators for the smooth implementation of physical classes.

Meanwhile, DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma confirmed that the pilot holding or face-to-face classes will end this week.

In person classes will resume in January and DepEd officials are hoping that it will be extended to include more schools.