OFFICIALS of the Department of Health and the Department of Education have started finalizing plans on the conduct of limited face-to-face classes.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that officials of the two departments met to discuss the implementation of limited face-to-face classes.

“We just had a meeting with the Department of Education officials and we are finalizing the joint issuance between the Department of Health and the Department of Education,” Vergeire said.

She added that DepEd officials will meet with President Rodrigo Duterte next week to discuss the rules on the holding of physical classes.

The DepEd wanted to add 20 more schools to the list of 100 schools where face-to-face classes can be held once the President gives his approval.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Philippines is one of five countries where schools remain closed because of the pandemic. The others are Bangladesh, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.