Senator Nancy Binay prodded the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos on Wednesday to extend free anti-Covid testing of teachers to ensure adequate protection for students in advance of the resumption of regular classes.
In a news statement, Binay called on the government to “ensure that all school teaching staff are fully vaccinated and that schools are fully compliant with safety protocols,” even before the planned implementation of full face-to-face (F-to-F) classes in November.
Speaking “as a parent,” Binay reminded that before holding full F-to-F classes, “We want to be assured that the teachers and their support staff are already vaccinated with booster shots and trained under the new vaccine booster bakunado at may booster, trained sila for the new normal and the classrooms are well-ventilated, health and safety protocols are strictly implemented, maayos ang spacing ng mga estudyante, may tubig at sabon sa wash areas at CR. Ibig sabihin, by September, schools must be ready and compliant,” Binay said.
The senator stressed all the necessary testing protocols “must be in place to ensure the safety of teachers and students.”
At the same time, Binay asked the Department of Health (DOH) to fast track giving booster shots to learners, suggesting, “Yung DOH sana, habang nasa bakasyon ang mga bata, i-fast track na nila ang pagbibigay ng booster shots sa 12-17 years old at doon sa mga younger learners in time for the phasing-in in September.” she said.
Moreover, the senator enjoined local government units to help the Department of Education (DepEd) in mapping which schools are already 100 percent compliant.
Image credits: DOST-STII