THE DEPARTMENT of Education Dumaguete City will still require wearing face masks during the full implementation of face-to-face classes to prevent teachers and students from contracting Covid19.

City Division of Schools Superintendent Dr. Cyrus Gregorio Elejorde said teachers give free face masks to students and parents to ensure that they are worn while on campus and in classrooms.

“All 25 public schools in Dumaguete are already implementing the face-to-face classes which will be from Monday to Friday, but we encourage the wearing of face masks because not all learners have been vaccinated against Covid19,” Elejorde said.

On Friday, DepEd released Department Order 48 which makes the wearing of face masks in indoor and outdoor spaces within school premises optional.

The recent directive amends DepEd Order No. 39 series of 2022 in line with the implementation of Executive Order No. 7 released by Malacañang last October 28, making the wearing of face masks indoors and outdoors optional amid the pandemic.

DepEd earlier said students and teachers attending physical classes may remove their face masks in classrooms as they will abide by the existing national policy on face mask use.

Since November 2, all public schools are mandated to implement full in-person classes, except for those granted exceptions.