QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte backed the plan of the University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center to resume limited face-to-face classes for its medical programs.

School officials met with Belmonte on Monday, February 8, to present their policies and procedures for holding limited face-to-face classes in compliance with health and safety protocols.

“Mayor Joy Belmonte gave the delegation the full support of her office and an orientation of the programs the UERM can tap to ensure a complementation of safeguards and actions if and when there is a need,” the university said.

“The work began with the point-by-point setting up of protocols, procedures and physical layout corresponding to the requirements of the Commission on Higher Education. The checklist consisted of three general areas of assessments ensuring safety of students and faculty,” UERM said.

CHED required higher educational institutions wanting to hold limited face-to-face classes to consult with their respective LGUs and present their plans on how they will comply with the protocols.

The university expressed its intention to conduct limited in-person classes for the second semester of Academic Year 2020-2021 in Dentistry and other health programs.

UE President Ester Garcia said that UERM started opening its wards and doctors’ clinic in December as part of the university’s preparations for the physical classes.

The school also renovated its hospital building where interns and students will report for their clinical classes.

The UERM was the first HEI in Quezon City to apply for the resumption of limited face-to-face classes for medical programs.