THE DEPARTMENT of Education ramped up the BIDA Kid and PinasLakas campaigns to ensure the safety of learners and educators who have returned to face-to-face classes.

In a webinar conducted by the Department of Health titled “Sa Booster: PinasLakas na BIDA Kid,” DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa reiterated the Department’s information drive in the implementation of the 3Bs: Bakuna (Vaccination), Bayanihan (Solidarity) and BIDA behaviors. These focus on wearing of masks, physical distancing and hand washing.

“It won’t stop with the opening of classes,” Poa said, allaying fears from the public, especially parents. “Tuluy-tuloy po nating mino-monitor ang situation sa bawat paaralan, because each school is unique. Buong school year po ‘to, especially during the transition period, we will be monitoring our schools para makita at matukoy natin na strictly enforced ang ating minimum public health standards.”

Dr. Alfonso Miguel Regala, division chief of the Health Promotion Bureau of the DOH, said that under PinasLakas, vaccination is expanded through the setting up of more jab sites to include schools, churches and markets.

While the effects of Covid19 on children are less severe compared to other populations, due diligence in vaccination and strict adherence to the minimum public health standards lessen the threat of infection in schools, Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, a pediatric infectious diseases expert, said.

Poa asked parents and the media to report schools that fail or refuse to comply with the minimum public health standards so the Department can identify and intervene as quickly as possible.

“The goal is to bring our learners back to school, kasi nga maraming nahirapan nung two years ng pandemya,” he said. “Now, sa pagbabalik-eskwela po natin, again, I want to reiterate, hindi po perpekto ang mangyari kasi taun-taon talagang may problema. We know there will be challenges, but we are up to the challenge.”