Face-to-face classes part of the plan, Palace tells Robredo

October 5, 2020

Malacanang said on Monday that face-to-face classes is really part of the government's plan once the "new normal" is declared in areas in the country where there will be no new case of coronavirus disease.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement in an answer to Vice President Leni Robredo who renewed her call to the Department of Education to devise a design for face-to-face classes at least twice a week since several teachers had no access to gadgets or stable internet signals.

"If only VP Leni reads the news, it's really part of the plan that face-to-face can be held sometime in January in areas that will be declared under new normal," he said in a virtual press briefing in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan.

He said the government is going to that direction wherein it will declare new normal in areas without new COVID-19 cases within a month.

"So, this has long been planned," he said.

Roque expressed hope that Robredo would review the government's plans so that there is no need to repeat it again.

He added that the Palace has not heard anything new from any of Robredo's suggestions.

"Maybe this has something to do also with her 50 percent approval and performance levels," Roque said, referring to the latest survey results of the Pulse Asia where President Rodrigo Duterte was able to get 91 percent in performance and trust ratings.

Robredo, on the other hand, received 57 percent performance rating and 50 percent trust rating.

Classes in public schools opened on Monday, but they are being held through blended learning, such as the use of internet and printed modules, but no in-person classes. Celerina Monte/DMS