Gatchalian: If political rallies allowed, gov’t should also permit in-person grad rites

If it permits people to flock together during election campaign rallies, the government should also allow in-person graduation ceremonies, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said in a Monday statement.

“Kung nakakapagsagawa na tayo ng mga aktibidad na dinudumog ng maraming tao tulad ng election campaigns, dapat bigyan din natin ng pagkakataon ang mga magulang at mga mag-aaral na magkaroon na ng face-to-face graduation,” the Senate Basic Education Committee chairman said in a statement.

(If we could hold activities where we allow crowds to gather, like election campaigns, we should also give the students and their parents the chance to experience face-to-face graduation rites.)

The lawmaker made the remark after the government placed the National Capital Region and several areas under a COVID-19 Alert Level 1  - the loosest quarantine classification.

With the eased COVID-19 restrictions, Gatchalian said parents and students "should be able to fully relish their moments of pride" as graduation ceremonies are “once in a lifetime moments.”

However, he said public health protocols should still be followed to avoid turning these ceremonies into superspreader events.

“Ang kasiyahang dulot ng pagtatapos ng mga mag-aaral ay nag-uudyok pa sa maraming mga magulang na nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa na umuwi ng Pilipinas para lamang makadalo sa graduation ng kanilang mga anak. Sa gitna ng patuloy na pagbaba ng mga kaso ng COVID-19, napapanahong ibigay din natin ang pagkakataong ito sa mga magulang at kanilang mga anak,” he noted.

(The joy that these graduation ceremonies bring prompts the parents who are working abroad to return to the Philippines to witness the event personally. Amid the decrease of COVID-19 cases in the country, it is about time to give this opportunity to the parents and their children.)

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) placed Metro Manila and other areas in the country under Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15, 2022.

Under Alert Level 1, all establishments, persons, or activities are permitted to operate at 100% capacity. — DVM, GMA News