Sen. Bong Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, has suggested assigning health safety officers in schools in view of the resumption of physical classes.
This is to help safeguard the welfare of students, teachers, and school personnel, and to curb another surge in Covid-19 cases in the country.
In an interview after he personally provided aid to residents in Maasin City, Leyte, on 11 August, Go said that while he agrees with the resumption of face-to-face classes in select areas, the government must prioritize the health and safety of students.
He mentioned the idea of assigning health safety officers in schools to check on students, teachers, and school personnel.
“Recently, tatlong senador ang nag-positive sa Covid. Patunay na tumataas na naman ang kaso, kaya doble ingat tayo at pag-aralan natinng mabuti,” Go said.
Classes start on 22 August 2022 until 7 July 7 2023, according to Department of Education Order No. 034, s. 2022.
The options to have five-day in-person classes, blended learning modality, or full distance learning will be allowed only until 31 October 2022.
Starting 2 November, all public and private schools are expected to transition to the usual five-day in-person classes.
Meanwhile, in light of the rising Covid-19 cases in the country, as well as other emerging health threats such as Monkeypox, Go said the Senate Health Committee will conduct a public hearing on 15 August to discuss with relevant authorities the updates on the government’s Covid-19 pandemic response, including reports on vaccine wastage, and other health concerns such as measures to prevent the spread of monkeypox.
“Pag-uusapan po namin ang paghahanda ng gobyerno sa monkeypox na naiulat na pumasok, bakuna para sa monkeypox, at iba pang health related issues like dengue na tumataas ang kaso,” he said.
In a previous statement, Go said he will ask the Executive branch to “carefully assess the situation” and “study the need to further extend the state of calamity due to Covid-19,” as new cases have been rising in the past days and weeks in many places in the country.
“Bilang chair ng Senate Health Committee, interes ko na masigurong ginagawa nating lahat sa gobyerno ang mga dapat gawin upang maprotektahan ang kalusugan at buhay ng mga Pilipino,” said Go.