Año rejects holding of face-to-face classes yet

November 29, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Sunday said there is no need to rush for the implementation of face-to-face classes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In a radio interview, Año said allowing cockfighting should not be compared to face-to-face classes.

“Live audience is still not allowed in arenas...that’s why you cannot compare it (to classes). Second, we are talking about millions of students, you cannot control them when they go face-to-face, if you will say selected, then what will be your criteria? Even the President (Rodrigo Duterte) himself said there will be no face-to-face until 2020 so let’s follow the order of the President,” he said.

The secretary said there is no need to rush for the implementation of face-to-face classes as there will be changes by next year.

“Let’s not rush it...because the question is who will be responsible for that? Will you be responsible? You are good at recommending but you are not liable for it,” Año said.

“If they get sick or there will be a spike, will you bring them to the hospital or will you spend for their hospitalization? Second, who will be accountable?” he added.

He made the reaction after some senators recommended for localized and limited face-to-face learning since the government already allowed the opening of parlors, cockfighting, and even tourist areas.

Earlier, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said they will only allow the conduct of face-to-face classes upon approval of Duterte and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Briones said they are now studying the possibility of conducting limited face-to-face classes for next year upon the greenlight from the Office of the President.

For the school year 2020-2021, Deped decided to go blended learning by giving lessons through online, printed modules, television, and radio due to the threat of COVID-19. Ella Dionisio/DMS