League of Provinces suggests face-to-face classes in colleges, universities

The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) on Monday suggested the conduct of face-to-face classes in colleges and universities amid the  COVID-19 pandemic and delay in the rollout of the government's vaccination program.

"Tama ho ‘yun. ‘Yun ay medyo delikado talaga dahil 'yung sa mga kabataan ay mahirap pong kontrolin. Pero yung sa mga higher education institution, puwede po ‘yun, may mga edad na 'yan," said LPP president and Marinduque governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. on Dobol B TV.

Velasco made the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte ruled out face-to-face classes until August.

The National Economic Development Authority earlier proposed the resumption of pilot-testing of face-to-face classes, which was approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

On Monday, however, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte may only consider face-to-face classes in areas with low COVID-19 cases by August.

Currently, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) allows face-to-face classes only for students of medicine and allied health sciences, as well as in universities in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

CHED chairperson Prospero de Vera III, however, said the participation of students in face-to-face classes is not mandatory. —KBK, GMA News