PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes in areas with low Covid19 risk, Malacañang said on Monday.

Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said these areas will be determined by the Department of Health and the Department of Education.

Roque explained that physical classes will not be held on a daily basis but only half a day every other week.

“Kailangan pumasa sa safety criteria o assessment ng DepEd. Kailangan din na may suporta ng local government units sa pamamagitan ng resolution o letter of support at kinakailangan po merong written support and consent ng mga magulang ng learners,” he said.

Roque stressed that Duterte allowed the holding of in-person classes because prolonged closure of schools has “ceased to be a pure education matter.”

“Isyu na rin ito ng health, mental health ng ating mga kabataan, at isyu na rin ng ating ekonomiya. Baka kasi may henerasyon tayong mawala dahil wala tayong face-to-face,” he said.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones lauded the development, saying that education is very important to the Filipinos.

“Filipinos still believe in education. Filipinos accept the strategies that we have formulated in order to deliver education which is blended learning and now with limited pilot face-to-face lalo natin mapapaigting ang ating efforts in education,” Briones said.

DepEd and DOH earlier identified 120 schools where limited in-person classes will be conducted.