THE INTER-AGENCY Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has waived the medical insurance requirement for students attending face-to-face classes, Malacañang announced on Friday.

In a press briefing, Acting Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Kris Ablan said the IATF approved the recommendation of the Commission on Higher Education to scrap the requirement.

Colleges and universities were mandated to ensure that students participating in physical classes are registered with PhilHealth or any equivalent medical insurance.

However, several groups and some lawmakers deplored the requirement, saying that it was “unnecessary.”

Under IATF Resolution No. 164, HEIs can conduct physical classes at 100 percent capacity in areas under Alert Level 1.

Only fully vaccinated students and teaching and non-teaching personnel are allowed to participate in physical classes.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated learners will have classes under the flexible learning modalities.