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Gatchalian, Romulo vow Congress will prioritize bill seeking start of classes beyond August
By DONA MAGSINO, GMA News Two leaders from both houses of Congress assured the public Wednesday that the legislative branch will prioritize the ratification of a measure that will allow the start of classes in the country beyond August as the fight against COVID-19 continues.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Pasig Representative Roman Romulo made the commitment two days before the first regular session of the 18th Congress adjourns.
"Ginawa namin as close as possible doon sa Senate version. Just in case na may pagkakaiba pa, wala ho kaming problema sa Kongreso, sa plenaryo, na sabihin na we'll accept ang Senate version," Romulo, chair of the House panel on education, said during a virtual Kapihan sa Manila Bay.
"Kami rin sa Senate we're very flexible as long as ma-approve na natin ito at maibigay na natin ang kapangyarihan sa Pangulo dahil time is of the essence, wala na tayong masyadong oras," Gatchalian said in response.
Romulo said the bill would also help education stakeholders to shift their focus on how to better improve the alternative forms of learning amid the health crisis.
On Monday, the Senate approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to authorize President Rodrigo Duterte to reschedule the opening of classes at any date beyond August.
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Senate Bill No. 1541 amends Republic Act 7797 otherwise known as "An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from 200 days to not more than 220 class days" which currently states that the school year in the country may open as early as the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.
A similar measure, House Bill 6895, was also approved on second reading at the lower chamber.
The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier announced that School Year 2020-2021 will start on August 24 using "blended forms" of learning to ensure the welfare of over 27 million basic education students and 1.2 million teaching and non-teaching personnel at public and private schools in the country.
Duterte initially said he would not allow the reopening of classes until a vaccine for COVID-19 becomes available.
He, however, later on said he would "scrape the bottom of the barrel" to fund the alternative forms of learning being proposed by the DepEd.—AOL, GMA News