SENATORS Juan Edgardo Angara and Sherwin Gatchalian stressed the importance of ample preparations for face-to-face classes next school year.

“Ang importante dito ang ating preparasyon. Dahil ito ang kauna-unahang face-to-face classes natin pagtapos ng pandemya. At in fact meron pang pandemya, hindi pa lubusang nawawala ang pandemya,” Gatchalian said.

Aside from the school facilities, teachers, school staff and parents should also be prepared for the return of students to schools, he said.

“Kaya importante ang preparasyon so ano itong mga bagay na ito? Unang-una, siguraduhin natin na ang ating mga eskwelahan ay mayroong sapat na handwashing facilities, paghuhugas ng kamay, alcohol, ang mga teachers natin well-trained kung ano ang gagawin kung meron mang malalang mangyari sa kanilang mga eskwelahan,” he said.

“Ang importante dito ay handa ang ating mga guro, handa ang ating mga punungguro, handa ang ating mga magulang. Alam ‘yung kanilang gagawin,” he added.

Angara and Gatchalian also supported the call of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition to adjust the opening of School Year 2022-2023 to mid-September to allow teachers to have a vacation.

Angara asked the Department of Education to determine if it is feasible.

“Maganda ang intensiyon, we have to talk to the DepEd kung feasible kasi they have to adjust a lot of things,” he said.