THE UNIVERSITY of the East on Wednesday said it is preparing for the possible resumption of face-to-face classes of college programs allowed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“We are already preparing for those programs but we are awaiting the guidelines which are specific for each course,” UE President Esther Garcia said.

On Tuesday, the Commission on Higher Education confirmed that Duterte approved the expansion of limited in-person classes to include other degree programs that “require hands-on experience” in areas that are under Modified General Community Quarantine.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued the authority for physical classes in Engineering and Technology, Hospitality/ Hotel and Restaurant Management, Tourism/ Travel Management, Marine Engineering and Marine Transportation, CHED said.

“Based on the data we gathered on the ground, there is a small percentage of students and faculty members who were affected by Covid19. I’m convinced that it is safe to hold face-to-face classes and it can be expanded to cover other degree programs,” De Vera said.

In January, Duterte approved the conduct of limited in-person classes for medicine and allied health sciences courses in a bid to provide additional manpower to the country’s health system as it battles the Covid19 pandemic.