PRESIDENT Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. asked local government units to support the booster campaign rollout to ensure safe resumption of face-to-face classes next school year.

In a virtual speech before newly elected governors and city mayors, Marcos stressed the importance of in-person learning for students.

“I hope that you will be part of the effort that we have to bring us back to normal. This is really part of the effort to bring us back to normal,” he said.

“Gawin natin itong booster rollout at makakatiyak tayo (na) wala nang lockdown at ayaw na ayaw na naming magkaroon ng lockdown. Kaya ito naman ang magiging pang-counter natin diyan sa pagkalat na naman nitong Omicron and its variants,” he added.

Marcos said he wants LGUs to conduct large-scale immunization drive for booster shot targeting school children so they can safely go back to school either August or September.

He noted Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio plans a phased return to F2F classes, starting initially from two-day, or three-day weekly class schedule.

If the massive vaccination drive becomes successful, the President said government could allow children to return to full F2F learning.

“Pero hindi po natin gagawin ‘yan hanggang maliwanag na maliwanag na safe na talaga. Dahil although so far maganda naman ang takbo, hindi naman napupuno ang mga ospital. Ngunit kung hindi tayo maingat, mapupunta na naman tayo doon,” Marcos said.