4 more Manila schools to hold limited physical classes for medical, health programs

Four more schools in Manila have been allowed to hold limited face-to-face classes for medical and allied health programs, the city government said Tuesday.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno approved the requests of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC), PHINMA St. Jude College (SJC), and National University (NU) to conduct limited physical classes as long as health protocols are followed.

The schools' representatives submitted to the local government their plans to comply with health protocols during the physical classes. This is in compliance with the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)-Department of Health (DOH) Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2021-001 on the "Guidelines on the Gradual Reopening of Campuses of Higher Education Institutions for Limited Face-to-Face Classes During the COVID-19 Pandemic."

"I trust everyone to follow the health protocols. Mas gusto ko 'yung kayo ang magkusang disiplina. [I would prefer that you would all ensure discipline]," Moreno said in a statement.

In addition, the mayor said he encouraged school representatives to get inoculated in Manila, which reached a daily vaccination record of 22,066 on May 27.

He said workers in schools should get vaccinated, which would be possible once the city government starts inoculating the A4 category.

"It now includes all workers who are required to go outside their homes to perform their jobs. Kaya pwede na ang halos lahat. Antabayanan lang natin ang announcement na pwede na ang A4 and, of course, when vaccines are available," the mayors said.

(Almost all can be vaccinated. Let's just wait for the announcement that A4 can already be vaccinated and when vaccines are available.)

Moreno also told the schools that they will receive support from the local government if they record COVID-19 infections in their campuses. — Consuelo Marquez/BM, GMA News