THE DEPARTMENT of Education said that the local government units can decide whether they will allow limited face-to-face classes to continue in their areas.

“Binibigyan po natin ng ano ang LGU na mag-decide kung feeling ng LGU na kailangan munang isuspinde [ang face-to-face classes] habang tumataas ‘yung Covid cases. Wala naman po kaming oposisyon doon,” DepEd Director Roger Masapol said.

“Ang ating design ngayon ng pilot implementation ay kailangan po ng LGU concurrence,” Masapol added.

The spike in Covid19 cases prompted officials to cancel classes in areas under Alert level 3.

Masapol said that prior to the surge, parents who participated in DepEd’s survey were “confident” in allowing their children to join physical classes.

“Sa katunayan, 98 to 99 percent ‘yung kanilang ‘feeling of safety’ safe ‘yung mga bata… Nagustuhan nila ang pag-implement ng face-to-face at mas natuto sila nang maayos kaysa sa distance learning,” he said.