SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday urged public school officials to  enforce the Department of Education’s alternative work arrangements and observe health protocols to protect teachers and personnel from Covid19 infection.

He said that implementing work-from-home schemes and the deployment of skeletal workforce would help stem the spread of the contagion.

Gatchalian issued the call after 10 high school teachers and two students in Ilagan City, Isabela contracted Covid19 after attending a meeting.

The senator pointed out that since tasks such as the printing and distribution of learning materials put teachers and non-teaching staff at risk, they should be provided with masks, face shields, and personal protective equipment.

Should teachers and staff contract Covid19, their health care needs should be given immediate attention, he added.

“Ngayong nagsimula na ang klase, lalo nating dapat tutukan ang kalusugan ng bawat guro at non-teaching staff lalo na’t sila ang nagsisilbing mga frontliners sa pagpapatupad ng distance learning sa gitna ng pandemya,” Gatchalian said.

DepEd Order No. 011 s. 2020 allows schools to adopt alternative work arrangements such as work-from-home, skeleton workforce, four-day workweek, and staggered working hours.

In areas under modified general community quarantine, schools and DepEd offices may operate at full  capacity as may be allowed by required health standards, including physical distancing protocols.

In areas under General Community Quarantine like Metro Manila, personnel reporting physically for work should not exceed 50 percent.

DepEd Order No. 014 s. 2020 meanwhile mandates schools and offices to have a provision of referral services that will link learners, teachers, and personnel to the appropriate health facilities.

The Education department was also required to coordinate with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Since classes are in full swing, Gatchalian said that an arrangement between DepEd and PhilHealth should already be operational.

“Kailangang siguruhin natin ang kanilang kaligtasan sa kanilang pagtatrabaho at kung sakali namang tamaan sila ng sakit, dapat matiyak natin na makatatanggap sila ng agarang tulong medikal,” the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture said.