THE Department of Education (DEPED) and Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) were urged to allow face-to-face graduation rites when COVID-19 cases are already manageable.

According to Kabayan Representative Ron P. Salo, face-to-face graduation in viable areas this coming end of the school year should be allowed.

“There is a clamor among our students and parents to allow face-to-face graduations when the circumstances warrant. I am urging the IATF and DepEd to issue at the soonest possible time, and with due regard to minimum health and safety protocols, the guidelines for face-to-face graduations,” Salo said.

“Most of our population has been inoculated with the vaccine. I believe it is high time that the parents and children are able to reap the benefits of our national vaccination program and get to experience a semblance of normalcy after more than two years,” he added.

As of the latest data from the Department of Health (DOH), the country has already administered more than 128,700,000 doses of vaccine.

Among them, more than 60 million are fully vaccinated and another 8 million have received their boosters. It has also begun to inoculate children between 5-11 years old.

“It is vital that we continue to encourage our citizens to be vaccinated so we are protected and get back our lives,” Salo adds. “

The solon stressed that graduation is one of the proudest moments of a parent and a child’s lives. It would only be fitting that one of the first activities allowed as we ease out of the pandemic is a celebratory moment shared between parents and children during their school graduation.

Earlier this month, the DEPED approved the gradual return to face-to-face classes of schools in selected areas.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas