SDO-Bataan planning officer Perlie Ann R. Torres
BALANGA CITY — From seven schools under the schools division office (SDO) in Bataan that first conducted limited face-to-face classes on Feb. 21, 2022, the number increased to 19 Monday with the target of full implementation of F2F classes this March or April this year.
SDO-Bataan planning officer Perlie Ann R. Torres on Wednesday said of the 19 operational schools, 18 are elementary schools and one junior high school.
There are 256 public schools under SDO-Bataan with 167 elementary schools, 54 junior high schools and 36 senior high schools, the planning officer said.
“Every Monday ay nadadagdagan ang bilang dahil ang target ng SDO–Bataan ay lahat ng schools ay makapag-ready at makapag-implement ng F2F classes at the end of March 28, 2022,” she said.
Under SDO–Bataan are the towns of Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles, Bagac, and Morong. Balanga City has a separate school district office.
“Ang hindrance lang sa pag-open ng mga in-classes ay ang coronavirus disease pero ready na ang mga schools,” Torres said.
She said that based on their monitoring on the field and conversation with teachers, there are no more problems in holding F2F classes.
“Siguro mga additional na gamit na lang sa Covid-19 para sa schools pero nasososlusyunan na naman ito kasi nagrere-allign ng budget ang mga schools pati ang mga partners ay willing na tumulong,” Torres said.
The opening of in-classes depends on the rural health unit that monitors the presence of Covid-19 in the community.
Ramon Perez, chief of DepEd school governance operations division, in a recent interview said one criterion set by DepEd for a school to open F2F classes was the absence of Covid- 19 in the area within the last 28 days.
Torres cited an Aeta school in Abucay that was permitted to open but later closed and awaiting re-opening.
“Nagkaroon ng Covid–19 case kaya nag-decide ang RHU na i-close muna pero walang close contact sa school at nasa labas ito malayo sa school. Magbubukas ito kapag in-allow na ulit sila ng RHU na mag-open, she said.
“Kung magkakaroon ng case ang school ay may sinusundan kaming contingency plan base sa magiging senaryo ang magiging aksiyon pero kung ano pa din ang magiging advice ng RHU ay ito pa rin ang susundin ng schools,” Torres added.
