THE COMMISSION on Higher Education has approved the application of 24 higher education institutions to hold limited face-to-face classes in the second semester of Academic Year 2020-2021.

CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera III said that these institutions fully complied with the guidelines laid down by the Department of Health and the commission. They have also been inspected by CHED and local officials.

“CHED will continue to monitor these HEIs and I am confident that they will provide safe and healthy spaces for their students in the coming months,” De Vera said.

The following HEIs passed stringent retrofitting and health standards imposed by CHED, the DOH and the Covid19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases:

Mariano Marcos State University – Batac (Region I)

St. Louis University [CAR]

Our Lady of Fatima University – City of San Fernando (Region III)

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (NCR)

University of Santo Tomas (NCR)

University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (NCR)

Our Lady of Fatima University – Quezon City (NCR)

Our Lady of Fatima University – Valenzuela City (NCR)

Manila Central University (NCR)

Adventist University of the Philippines (Region IV)

De La Salle Health and Medical Science Institute (Region IV)

University of Perpetual Help – Don Jose (Region IV)

Our Lady of Fatima University – Sta. Rosa (Region IV)

Naga College Foundation (Region V)

West Visayas State University (Region VI)

Central Philippine University (Region VI)

Cebu Institute of Medicine (Region VII)

University of Cebu School of Medicine (Region VII)

Iloilo Doctors’ College of Medicine (Region VI)

University of Iloilo (Region VI)

Blancia Foundation College, Inc. (Region IX)

Xavier University (Region X)

Liceo de Cagayan University (Region X)

University of the Philippines-Manila (NCR)

Selected allied health-related degree programs, such as Medicine, Nursing, Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science, Physical Therapy, Midwifery, and Public Health, were prioritized to conduct limited face-to-face classes for two major reasons: to enable students to achieve key learning outcomes on specialized laboratory courses and hospital-based clinical clerkship/internship/practicum and to provide additional manpower to the country’s health system.

Since these schools have retrofitted facilities and are safe spaces, six HEIs have partnered with their local government by allowing their facilities to serve as vaccination centers. These are the University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila Central University Gymnasium,

St. Louis University Baguio Gymnasium,

De La Salle Medical Health Sciences Institute, Our Lady of Fatima University (NCR) and Central Philippine University.

“We are encouraging the other HEIs to also offer their facilities as the country gears for expanded vaccination of senior citizens, essential workers, teachers and government personnel starting the 2nd quarter of the year. In return, we ask the LGUs to include the HEI faculty, staff and students who are assisting in the vaccination drive in their vaccination list so they can assist their LGUs,” De Vera said.

“This is also the reason why President Duterte approved limited face-to-face classes because our HEIs can help in the government’s vaccination program,” he added.

De Vera said that CHED is preparing the guidelines for establishing vaccination centers in HEIs. These guidelines will be discussed with the local government units and IATF.