MALACAÑANG on Monday said that President Rodrigo Duterte may allow the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes in areas with low number of Covid19 infections.

“Ang initial reaction ng Presidente, kung talagang pilot, at sa mga areas na mababa talaga ang kaso, he may allow it. Just so we can pilot it and see if it works if it can be implemented in other areas,” Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said.

The Department of Education and the Department of Health had identified 120 schools ready for implementation of in-person classes once the President allows it.

Roque said that DepEd and DOH representatives will meet with Duterte to discuss the matter since “the issue of face-to-face classes has ceased to be a pure education matter.”

“It is a multidisciplinary issue now involving the Health Department because of mental health issues, effect to the children, and the lack of socialization on the children; as well as an economic problem because we are dealing with a generation that could possibly be lost as a result of ‘yung hybrid na ini-implement natin,” he explained.

Only the Philippines and Venezuela are the two countries that have not resumed physical classes.