NINE public schools in Bicol region held limited face-to-face classes on Monday, November 15, an official of the Department of Education said.

DepEd Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad said the nine schools passed the risk assessment by the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force.

The schools included in the pilot run are the Sinalongan Elementary School, Gutusan Elementary School, and Mary Perpetua E. Brioso National High School in Masbate; Tandarura Elementary School, Balanac ES, Malama Elementary School (Bagacay Extension), Tupas Elementary School and Tiongson Elementary School in Ligao City in Albay; and Buenavista Elementary School in Sorsogon City.

These schools are located in remote areas and classified as low-risk for Covid19 by the DoH, according to Sadsad.

To ensure the safety of students and teachers, the regional office conducted a series of validation and assessment activities using the DepEd’s School Safety Assessment Tool.

“All qualified schools have also secured the consent of the concerned local government units and has already coordinated with parents prior to the said pilot implementation,” Sadsad said.

Limited in-person classes started on Monday in 100 selected public schools after nearly two years of closure because of the Covid19 pandemic.

The government plans to expand the program next year to include more schools.