President Rodrigo Duterte rejected the latest proposal to push through with limited face-to-face classes pending the conduct of COVID-19 vaccination.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday the chief executive expressed his objection to the move over a phone call on Sunday evening.
“Ayaw niyang mailagay sa panganib o alanganin ang buhay ng ating mga mag-aaral at mga guro habang wala pang nababakunahan (He does not want to endanger or risk the life of students and teachers while no one has been vaccinated yet),” he said.
“Baka pagkatapos nating mailunsad ang ating vaccination program ay pwede nang mag-face-to-face sa Agosto, lalong-lalo na sa lugar na mababa ang COVID cases (After the vaccination program is launched, face-to-face classes may take place in August especially in areas with low COVID cases),” he added.
Meanwhile, the president’s weekly Monday public address will be moved to Wednesday due to the scheduled full cabinet meeting today.
“Dahil nagdesisyon na si president na wala munang face-to-face, wala na po sa agenda ‘yan. Siguro kasama sa agenda talaga ang MGCQ (Since the president has decided not to push through with face-to-face, that may not be included in the agenda. The MGCQ might be in the agenda),” Roque explained.
“What he is anticipating is since we will begin vaccination this month, we will be way ahead of our vaccination program in August to give us the confidence to resume at least limited face-to-face education,” he concluded. — Report from Mela Lesmoras, PTV News Online
