Task forces to discuss proposal allowing poor minor students to use computer shoes for online learning

October 7, 2020

The  National Task Force against COVID-19 and the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) will discuss a proposal to allow minor students having a hard time in online classes to go to computer shops.

Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander, said there is an existing guideline which prohibits minors from entering business establishments, including internet cafes as part of the health safety measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic threat.

According to Eleazar, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año will bring up the issue of allowing minor students to go to the computer shops in the next IATF meeting.

“We feel and understand the concerns of both the students and the parents, especially the poor, in this new kind of learning method. That is why the national government, through the NTF on COVID-19 and the IATF are really finding ways to extend all the necessary assistance to them,” he said.

The NTF is headed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Año, who are also members of the IATF.

While some local government units (LGUs) have been providing gadgets and internet connection to their respective students, other LGUs do not have enough funds to extend the same assistance to their learners.

Eleazar said Philippine National Police chief Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan has tapped  local police commanders to extend all the necessary assistance for online learners in their areas of responsibility (AORs).

Cascolan approved the recommendation of the JTF COVID Shield for all police commanders to help poor parents and students in accessing internet connection for their online classes, noting that poor students could not buy computers and gadgets.

Eleazar said they will wait for the decision of the IATF regarding the proposal to turn computer shops as learning spaces for  online and modular learning minor students.

“Whatever the decision, the JTF COVID Shield and the PNP would make sure that the rules aimed at protecting as many people from coronavirus infection would be strictly implemented,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS