PUBLIC schools that started holding limited face-to-face classes on Monday were given financial support by the Department of Education.

Deped Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla reported that the agency has released the financial guidelines to field offices.

“Nag-issue kami ng guidelines to release the P100,000 to serve as initial funding support to schools with the list we have downloaded last week, the allotment covers P100,000 per school,” Sevilla said.

Sevilla emphasized that the financial guidance covers schools’ safe operations, teaching and learning, including the most marginalized, and ensuring students’ well-being and protection.

She said that the DEPED is bracing for possible adjustments, including the possibility that a participating school will be forced to close if there will be a Covid19 surge in the locality.

“We are also preparing for the expanded stage kasi nalalapit ‘yan. After ng pilot study I think magiging parallel ‘yon, and we continue to prepare financially for the expansion phase this year, as well as next year,” Sevilla said.

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Leonor Briones expressed optimism on the result of collaborations among different community stakeholders who committed support for the  rollout of in-person classes.

“Kitang-kita na ang paghahanda ay hindi gawain ng isang tao lamang kundi yung buong DepEd has been involved in this pilot implementation,” Briones said.