The Department of Education on Monday said the wearing of face mask is also optional in classrooms with the start of face-to-face classes today, Tuesday, November 2.
“Schools may immediately implement optional masking indoors pursuant to EO [Executive Order] 7,” DepEd spokesperson Atty. Michael Tan Poa said.
The EO allows the voluntary wearing of face mask indoors across the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte issued DepEd Order 34 s. 2022 mandating five days of in-person classes starting November 2.
The DO also stated that public and private schools will only be allowed to hold blended learning and full distance learning until October 31.
“After the said date, no school shall be allowed to implement purely distance learning or blended learning for those that are implementing Alternative Delivery Modes,” the DO read.
Poa also said initial reports showed that Paeng, which hit wide parts of the country before the opening of in-person classes, damaged 261 schools and 381 classrooms.
“Please note that the numbers are moving on a daily basis,” Poa said in a Viber message, noting that the report was recorded as of 6 p.m. on Monday, October 31.