Amid resumption of physical classes

SENATOR and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher “Bong” Go has suggested assigning health safety officers in schools in view of the resumption of physical classes to help safeguard the welfare of students, teachers, and school personnel, and to curb the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

In an ambush interview after personally providing aid to struggling residents in Maasin City, Leyte on Thursday, August 11, Go said that while he agrees with the resumption of face-to-face classes in select areas, the government must prioritize the health and safety of the students.

“Okay naman siguro. Sang-ayon po ako na bumalik tayo sa face-to-face classes but unahin po natin ang kalusugan at buhay ng ating kabataan,” said the senator.

“Always health and life ang priority natin dahil tumataas na naman ang kaso (ng COVID-19) sa ngayon,” he added.

Go then floated the idea of assigning health safety officers in schools to check on the safety of the students, teachers, and school personnel.

“Recently, tatlong senador ang nag-positive sa COVID. Patunay na tumataas na naman ang kaso, kaya doble ingat tayo at pag-aralan natin nang mabuti,” he reiterated.

“Dapat meron tayong ilagay na… health officer sa eskwelahan… to check na safe ba talaga ang mga bata, safe ang mga teacher, at dapat po magpabakuna ang lahat,” he added.

The start of classes is set on August 22 and shall last until July 7, 2023, according to Department of Education Order No. 034, s. 2022. The options to have five-day in-person classes, blended learning modality, or full distance learning will be allowed only until October 31, 2022.

Starting November 2, 2022, all public and private schools are expected to transition to the usual five-day in-person classes.

Meanwhile, in light of the rising COVID-19 cases in the country as well as other emerging health threats such as Monkeypox, Go said that the Senate Health Committee will conduct a public hearing on Monday, August 15, to discuss with relevant authorities the updates on the government’s COVID-19 pandemic response, including reports on vaccine wastage, and other health concerns such as the measures set to prevent the spread of monkeypox.

“Sa darating po na Lunes, magkakaroon po ng hearing, along with the organizational meeting na ipinatawag ng Committee on Health ay ididinig po namin ang sinasabing mga nasayang na vaccine na nabili ng gobyerno,” said Go.

“Pag-uusapan po namin ang paghahanda ng gobyerno sa monkeypox na naiulat na pumasok, bakuna para sa monkeypox, at iba pang health related issues like dengue na tumataas ang kaso,” he added.

Previously in a statement, Go said that he will ask the Executive Branch to “carefully assess the situation” and “study the need to further extend the state of calamity due to COVID-19” as new cases have been rising in the past days and weeks in many places in the country.

“Bilang chair ng Senate Health Committee, interes ko na masigurong ginagawa nating lahat sa gobyerno ang mga dapat gawin upang maprotektahan ang kalusugan at buhay ng mga Pilipino,” assured Go.