PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday approved the recommendation of the Department of Education to expand limited face-to-face classes in February.

Acting Palace Spokesman Karlo Nograles said that Duterte allowed the “progressive expansion” of physical classes in areas under Alert Level 1 and 2.

“Walang objection si Pangulo doon. It will be the DepEd and the Department of Health combined that will be assessing the expansion of pilot implementation of face-to-face classes,” Nograles said.

He clarified that onsite learning will only be permitted upon the agreement of local government units and with the consent of parents and other stakeholders.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones earlier described the pilot phase of in-person classes as “highly successful.”

Briones attributed the success to the “high level of attendance” among learners as well as the “high satisfaction levels” in the execution of health and safety protocols.

She added that there were no reports of confirmed Covid19 cases among the 287 schools that participated in the pilot run.

During the expanded phase, only vaccinated teaching and non-teaching staff will be allowed to join.