Schools may still hold graduation rites: DepEd

“But be that as it may, sinabi ko pa rin sa kanila kung anuman ang maiwan na pera, try to distribute it doon sa Republika ng Pilipinas, the local government units tutal meron naman tayong nagawa,” he said.

National News and were completed during President Duterte’s term.

“Pero para sa akin okay na ‘yon. I can give the credit to them for I never started it. I’m just finishing it. It’s no big deal for anyone,” he said.

Schools may still hold graduation rites: DepEd One of the major projects, he said, is the Skyway, which is expected to greatly improve the traffic situation of Metro Manila.

Some of the projects started during the previous administration Also present Tuesday were Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and other members of the Cabinet. PND

MANILA – Public and private schools can push through with their graduation rites provided that they are able to implement strictly the Department of Health’s (DOH) guidelines on social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). In a press briefing at the SEAMEO Innotech in Quezon City on Wednesday, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the Department of Education (DepEd) trusts the schools and parents that they will observe the social distancing measures amid the continuing threat of Covid-19.

“Kasi sabi ng DOH, iko-control ang mass gathering, halimbawa, kung maliit ang eskwelahan, magsabi sila ang isang graduating student ay entitled only to one parent or guest, at kung malaki ang school, kasi may mga schools na libo-libo ang mag-gagraduate, (The DOH said to control mass gathering, example, if the school is small, it must instruct their graduating students that each of them is entitled to only one parent or guest, and if the school is big, because there are schools with thousands of graduates) batch by batch,” Briones said.

Briones said this is why schools were instructed to schedule their graduation rites for an entire week.

Briones said the DepEd is aware By Ma. Teresa Montemayor

of instances where private schools decide to hold online classes since President Rodrigo Duterte approved the suspension of classes in all levels in the National Capital Region from March 10 to 14.

“Online classes, yes, that’s okay, in fact, later, our Undersecretary for Administration will demonstrate the use of our online learning resources. Whatever innovation that can be used, we’ll allow it, we just have to be informed and should we stop others from using technology,” she added. exams on Thursday and Friday.

“Teachers can schedule their exams on a staggard basis, iyong iba ay puwede sa Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules para consistent pa rin tayo sa (others could be on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday so we’re consistent with the) social distancing measures. In the event of sustained community transmission, Code Red sub level 2, since we’re near the end of the school year, there’ already enough basis to give the learners grades in the absence of a final test,” Malaluan said.

Meanwhile, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said teachers are instructed to give pointers for review for learners who were supposed to have their final He added that the DepEd is having a discussion on the transmutation that will be used for the final grades of the learners if they are unable to take the final exams. (PNA) March 7-13, 2020 Caraga Infocus 50

COVID -19 News Go points to other funding COVID -19 News

sources vs. Covid-19

By Jose Cielito Reganit

MANILA – The government can tap other sources of funds to finance the government’s effort to respond to the threat of Covid-19, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said after the House Appropriations Committee only approved a PHP1.65-billion supplemental budget for the purpose.

“Since the Department of Health (DOH) is requesting an additional PHP3.1 billion, additional funds may be raised from other sources,” Go said in a statement. PHP2.035 billion for personal protective equipment (PPE), PHP933 million for the Bureau of Quarantine, and PHP139 million for the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

others, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

“I mentioned last Monday that I personally spoke to Pagcor chair Andrea Domingo and she said that they can provide additional funding amounting to PHP2 billion,” he said.

Go said another PHP420 million from PCSO will also be allocated “based on a proclamation to be issued” by President Rodrigo Duterte.

He pointed out that there is about PHP539 million in DOH savings and another PHP81 million from the DOH Quick Response Fund that can be utilized.

“Adding all these together, we have a total of roughly PHP4.6 billion to help DOH and concerned agencies respond to the needs of our people amid the Covid-19 situation,” Go said. If the amount is not yet enough, he said there are still the Contingency Fund and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund that can be standby sources, “if needed.”

Go assured the public that by virtue of President Duterte’s Proclamation No. 922, which declared the Philippines under the State of Public Health Emergency, “all available resources of the government will be utilized properly and efficiently to respond to this (Covid-19) crisis” and ensure the safety of all Filipinos. “Additionally, the declaration allows the LGUs (local government units) to utilize their local disaster risk reduction management funds (LDRRMF) under RA 10121,” he said.

Go assured that he will use the oversight function of his office to ensure that the fight against Covid-19 is carried out effectively and in a transparent manner.

“As a Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, sisiguraduhin ko na ginagawa ng mga opisyal at mga ahensya ng gobyerno ang kanilang tungkulin na mapangalagaan ang kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino. Sisiguraduhin rin natin na kahit piso mula sa kaban ng bayan ay hindi masasayang (I will ensure that concerned officials and agencies of the government are doing their duty to take care of the health of each Filipino. We will also ensure that not a single peso from the government coffers will be wasted),” he said. (PNA)