After 2 years of distance learning, PH schools return to face-to-face classes

AUG 21, 2022 9:00 PM PHT

BONZ MAGSAMBOL
The return to face-to-face classes in the Philippines is long overdue, considering the country’s education
system that is largely unprepared for distance learning.

MANILA, Philippines – After two years of implementing distance learning due to the pandemic, schools
in the Philippines are set to return to face-to-face classes on Monday, August 22.

Not all schools will resume lessons in physical classrooms – 1,004 schools are still implementing remote
classes for the meantime.

In a press briefing on Friday, August 19, Department of Education (DepEd) spokesman Michael Poa said
a total of 24,175 schools will implement five days of face-to-face classes and 29,721 schools will hold
classes through blended learning.

“Some schools will be in person, five days. Some schools will be blended. But let’s not forget that
blended learning also has in-person classes for three days [in a week]. And then there’s full distance
learning. So we are not expecting all of our schools to go to in-person immediately but we’re expecting
that on Monday, most of our public schools will definitely go to-in person, five days,” Poa said in
a Rappler Talk interview on Friday.

Poa said schools holding classes through distance learning are those that were affected by calamities,
such as the magnitude 7 earthquake in Abra in July that affected other provinces as well. But these
schools should transition to five days of face-to-face classes later on.

In her first order as DepEd chief, Vice President Sara Duterte ordered all schools to return to face-to-face
classes on November 2, although exemptions can be given to very “specific areas.”

As of Saturday, August 20, a total of 27,691,191 students have enrolled for school year 2022-2023 –
more than the previous school year’s 26.3 million students. The DepEd is aiming to enroll 28.6 million
students for this school year.

“A bulk of our parents tend to enroll towards the end, because we Filipinos like doing everything during
the last day. So that’s why hindi tayo tumitigil sa paghikayat sa ating mga magulang  (we continue to
urge parents) to please, let’s enroll our learners,” Poa said.

The return to in-person classes comes as the country is dealing with a fresh surge in COVID-19 infections
and recorded monkeypox cases. COVID-19 infections this time are generally mild, thanks to vaccination.

Vaccination not required

There are no government-set preconditions for the return of students to the traditional mode of
learning. They do not need to be vaccinated against the deadly virus that has so far infected over 3.8
million and killed 60,000 individuals in the Philippines.
Poa said there is no discrimination between vaccinated and unvaccinated students, as COVID-19
vaccination is not mandatory in the Philippines. Based on DepEd data, 92% of its teaching and non-
teaching staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Meanwhile, 19% of enrolled students have
received their second dose of the vaccine.

Although vaccination is not a requirement, the DepEd has partnered with the Department of Health and
local government units in holding counseling sessions to reach the unvaccinated.

There was also no class size set for each classroom. Duterte said physical distancing will be implemented
“whenever possible.”

Classroom shortages have been a problem even before the pandemic. For instance, some 50 to 60
students were packed into one classroom supposedly meant for only 40. To make up for the lack of
classrooms, class shifting has been implemented to accommodate enrollees every year.
(READ: Classroom shortages greet teachers, students in opening of classes)

Though physical distancing will not be enforced, Duterte said the government will build more
classrooms to address overcrowded classrooms. As a quick fix, shifting and temporary learning spaces
were put up. Based on DepEd data, the Philippines lacks 91,000 classrooms for this school year.

Rising prices major concern for parents

While most parents favor the return to in-person classes, rising prices of basic commodities have
become a major consideration for financially struggling families.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s inflation rate jumped to 6.4% in July.
Inflation refers to the rate of increase in the prices of goods.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the purchasing power of the Philippine peso has declined. P1 in
2018 was worth just P0.87 in June 2022. (READ: IN CHARTS: This is how inflation ruined Filipinos’ budget
in June 2022)

MUST READ

Parents worry about costs of returning to face-to-face classes amid rising prices
High time to return to in-person classes

The return to face-to-face classes in the Philippines is long overdue, considering the country’s education
system that is largely unprepared for distance learning. (READ: Distance learning in the Philippines: A
year of hits and misses)

Studies showed students were “learning less” under the distance learning setup. Experts and lawmakers
were alarmed by the learning losses brought by the pandemic.

According to a World Bank report, 9 in 10 Filipino students aged 10 struggle to read simple text.
While it is high time for Philippine schools to ret urn to face-to-face classes, Duterte’s order drew
criticism for the supposed lack of health protocols in place.

But for the Vice President, Filipinos are more than prepared now since it has been over two years since
the pandemic began. – Rappler.com

Rappler Talk: DepEd spokesman on school opening, learning crisis

Anchor: Bonz Magsambol

Interviewed: DepEd Spokesman Michael Poa

-Schools have 3 options for the reopening of classes

1. In-person in 5 days

2. Blended classes- Blended classes also has in-person aspect for 3 days in the beginning and 4 days
after. The remaining days are used for modular learning at home.

3. Full distance learning

- 24,000 schools are ready to start the school year with face to face learning

- 1,004 schools are to implement full distance learning. A reason found to support this decision is the
damaged infrastructure of the school due to the magnitude 7 earthquake. The rest of the reasons are
yet to be investigated.

- Vice President Sara Duterte orders all schools to return to face-to-face learning by November 2. DepEd
says they are confident on implementing full face-to-face learning based on the data provided: 76% of
public schools already implemented in person. With the time gap it is said that these statistics will go up.
It is said that DepEd will make exemption on November 2 but only for “highly exceptional cases” like
infrastructure issues.

-
Mga Gabay na Tanong

Kahalagahan:

- Bakit mahalaganng pag-usapan o masolusyonan ito?

- Kailan/Saan/Paano nagsimula ang isyu?

Pinagmulan:

- Gumamit ba ng kmbinasyon ng primarya at sekundaryang sanggunian ang nagsulat ng balit?

- Ikaw bilang tagapagsuri, ano-ano ang sangguniang ginamit mo upang higit mong maunawaan
ang isyu? Masasabi mo bang mapagkakatiwalaan ang mga sangguniang ito? Bakit?

Iba’t ibang Pananaw

- Ano-ano ang iba’t ibang pananaw o paniniwala ng mga tao sa usapang ito? Magbigay ng
dalawang magksalungat na pananaw tungkol dito.
Epekto:

- Ano-ano ang epekto nito sa lipunan, bansa o daigdig?

Personal na damdamin:

1. An ang pananaw mo o nararamdaman mo tungkol sa isyung ito? Paano ka kaya makatutugon sa

isyung ito?
JULY 2022 LUZON EARTHQUAKE

Magnitude 7 earthquake hits Abra

JUL 27, 2022 9:15 AM PHT
RAPPLER.COM

INFO
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(5th UPDATE) At least four people are reported dead. Authorities in various parts of
Luzon are assessing the damage.

MANILA, Philippines – A magnitude 7 earthquake rocked the island region of Luzon

on Wednesday morning, July 27, with the epicenter located in the province of Abra.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) initially pegged

the earthquake’s magnitude at 7.3.
Phivolcs said the quake struck at 8:43 am on Wednesday, at a depth of 15 kilometers
– shallower than the initial 25 kilometers stated in its bulletin. The agency warned of
damage and aftershocks.

In a statement, Abra Representative Ching Bernos confirmed the quake caused

damage to homes and establishments.

“I urge everyone to stay alert and to prioritize safety in light of the possibilities of
aftershocks that might be felt after that strong earthquake. We are monitoring the
situation on the ground and gathering information on the extent of the damage to the
province,” Bernos said.

“My office is also actively coordinating with proper authorities on what can be done
to assist families and communities that were severely affected by this earthquake.”

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said at least four
people died.

The quake was also felt in other parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila. Phivolcs
said the following are the reported intensities:

 Intensity VII – Bucloc and Manabo, Abra

 Intensity VI – Vigan City, Sinait, Bantay, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur; Laoac,
Pangasinan; Baguio City
 Intensity V – Magsingal and San Juan, Ilocos Sur; Alaminos City and
Labrador, Pangasinan; Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya; Mexico, Pampanga;
Concepcion and Tarlac City, Tarlac; City of Manila; Malabon City
 Intensity IV – Marikina City; Quezon City; Pasig City; Valenzuela City; Tabuk
City, Kalinga; Bautista and Malasiqui, Pangasinan; Bayombong and Diadi,
Nueva Vizcaya; Guiguinto, Obando, and San Rafael, Bulacan; San Mateo,
Rizal
 Intensity III – Bolinao, Pangasinan; Bulakan, Bulacan; Tanay, Rizal
 Intensity II – General Trias City, Cavite; Santa Rosa City, Laguna

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed swift response in the aftermath of the
earthquake.

“Sa kabila ng nakalulungkot na mga ulat tungkol sa pinsalang dulot ng lindol, ating
sinisigurado ang maagap na pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga
kababayang apektado ng sakunang ito,” Marcos said on his Facebook page on
Wednesday.
(Despite the saddening reports about the damage brought by the earthquake, I am
ensuring swift response to address the needs of our affected countrymen.)

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a briefing on Wednesday that Marcos

plans to visit Abra once it is determined that it is safe for him to travel. –
Rappler.com

EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

DepEd: All schools should shift to face-to-face

classes on November 2
JUL 12, 2022 12:10 PM PHT
BONZ MAGSAMBOL
INFO
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(1st UPDATE) 'Starting November 2, 2022, all public and private schools shall have
transitioned to 5 days in-person classes,' the DepEd order says
PLAY VIDEO

MANILA, Philippines – In her first order as the education secretary, Vice President
Sara Duterte directed all public and private schools in the country to transition to five
days of face-to-face classes beginning November 2.

This was contained in Department of Education (DepEd) Order 34, s. 2022,

containing the calendar of activities for school year 2022 to 2023, which was made
public on Tuesday, July 12.

“Starting November 2, 2022, all public and private schools shall have transitioned to
five days in-person classes. After the said date, no school shall be allowed to
implement purely distance learning or blended learning except for those that are
implementing Alternative Modes,” the DepEd order read.

Duterte issued the order as the country dealt with another surge in COVID-19 cases
driven by the Omicron variant. Despite the increase in cases, the entire Philippines
remained at low risk for the virus.
The DepEd order also stated that school year 2022-2023 will begin on Monday,
August 22, and end on July 7, 2023.

‘Slowly transition’

The DepEd said that it will give schools ample time to slowly transition into in-person
classes by implementing any of the following options:

 Five days of face-to-face classes

 Blended learning
o Three days of in-person classes and 2 days of distance learning, or 4
days of in-person classes and 1 day of distance learning
 Full distance learning

The DepEd said that these options will only be implemented by schools until October
31, 2022.

Will face-to-face classes be mandatory for all students? Or can students opt out if they
feel unsafe attending in-person classes?

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Education Undersecretary Epimaco Densing said that

the order is “mandatory,” which means all “enrolled students abide.” 

The DepEd order is applicable “regardless of the COVID-19 alert level imposed by
the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or
the Department of Health in areas where schools are located.” But in case of a surge
in cases, Densing said that the pandemic task force could recommend suspension of
classes to DepEd. 
PLAY VIDEO

Over two years into the pandemic, the Philippines is among the few countries in the
world where schools have not fully opened for in-person classes. As of April 22, there
were about 25,786 schools holding in-person classes.

There are an estimated 60,000 public and private schools in the country.

The DepEd earlier said that 80% of the 48,000 public schools and 12,000 private
schools in the country have already met their requirements for face-to-face classes. –
Rappler.com
Bonz Magsambol

@bnzmagsambol

Here's the part of the DepEd order containing the details on

the conduct of in-person classes.
@rapplerdotcom
EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

DepEd targets 28.6 million enrollees for

school year 2022-2023
JUL 28, 2022 9:37 AM PHT
BONZ MAGSAMBOL

INFO
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The Department of Education is optimistic that enrollment for the upcoming school
year will surpass the previous 27.2 million enrollees

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) is targeting 28.6

million basic education enrollees for school year 2022 to 2023 – over a million
students more than the previous school year.
At the joint press briefing with the Office of the Vice President on Wednesday, July
27, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said that the turnout during the first day of
enrollment on July 25 was a “far cry” from 2021.

“Nakapagtala po tayo ng 3.3 million enrollees noong first day. It is a far cry doon sa
naitala natin last year which was only a little bit over 220,000,” Poa said.

(We were able to record a total of 3.3 million enrollees during the first day. It is a far
cry from last year, which was only a little bit over 220,000.)

“Sana po magtuloy-tuloy ‘yung assumption natin na 28.6 million learners for the
upcoming school year,” he added. (We hope we will meet our assumption of 28.6
million learners for the upcoming school year.)
PLAY VIDEO

As of Wednesday, a total of 5.6 million students have enrolled. Under DepEd Order
Number 35, the enrollment period for the upcoming school year is from July 25 to
August 22. Students can enlist through three different modes: in-person, remotely, or
through dropbox forms.
In an earlier interview, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte
expressed optimism that enrollment for the upcoming school year will surpass the
previous 27,232,095 students.

Why this matters

It would be interesting to note whether the enrollment figures would increase since
Duterte ordered all schools in the country to shift to traditional face-to-face classes on
November 2, although exemptions can be given to “very specific areas” where
blended learning can continue.
MUST READ

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learning can continue in ‘very specific areas’

Poa, however, said that the goal of DepEd was to transition all schools to in-person
classes by then, noting that almost all schools in the country are “ready” for the shift.

While it is high time for the Philippine schools to return to face-to-face classes,
students and parents said in social media posts that in-person classes should be done
only in areas where it is safe to do so.
Over two years into the pandemic, the Philippines is among the few countries in the
world where schools have not fully opened for in-person classes.

Some studies have shown that students are “learning less” under the distance learning
setup. Experts and lawmakers were alarmed by the learning losses brought by the
pandemic. – Rappler.com

School opening woes: Many

students, few classrooms
By: Matthew Reysio-Cruz - Reporter / @inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 07:24 AM June 04, 2019

DIVIDE BY TWO As nearly 23 million students pour into 47,025 public

schools throughout the country for the opening of classes on Monday,
Grade 2 pupils share a room at Rosauro Almario Elementary School in
Tondo, Manila, with only a blackboard separating them. —MARIANNE
BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — As a new school year started on Monday,
Education Secretary Leonor Briones carefully selected Signal Village
National High School in Taguig City for her symbolic first visit of the day.

The public school — with a gleaming new building with 21 fully air-
conditioned classrooms, cyberlaboratory with 26 iMac computers and a
“Hope Center” for 24/7 counseling — was the ideal backdrop for her
message to the public: “There is good news in education.”
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But the Taguig school did not reflect conditions in the rest of the country’s
47,000 public schools, into which nearly 23 million students squeezed
themselves, in an annual deluge that though predictable the government
seemed to have never had the capacity to prevent.

Plywood dividers

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At Juan Sumulong Elementary School in Antipolo City, about 15

kilometers from Taguig, up to 90 Grade 2 students squeezed into small
classrooms separated by thin plywood dividers, some of which teachers
paid for with part of their midyear bonus.

Last year, the lack of space in the school was so acute that classes for the
9,000 students had to be divided into three four-hour shifts.

This year, however, the shifts were down to two, said Manolito Resaba,
president of the Antipolo Public School Teachers Association.
Briones, recognizing gaping and long-standing disparities among public
schools, promised that the Department of Education (DepEd) would
intensify its efforts to make all schools equal.

“But this is an endeavor, objective and battle [that] is fought not just by
the DepEd but by the entire country,” she said. “The quality of public
education is largely shaped by the quality—and quantity—of its support.”

‘Last mile program’

Briones said the agency had started implementing a “last mile program,”
and was taking an inventory of schools around the country that needed
to catch up.
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Many of these schools were at least an hour’s travel from town centers, or
had been devastated by natural disasters, she said.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has flagged such schools in

Eastern Visayas, which was devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda”
(international name: Haiyan) in 2013.

“Those struck by Yolanda in [Eastern Visayas] have been holding all their
classes in plywood classrooms since 2014 with walls that are too short, it
hardly touches the uncemented ground,” ACT secretary general Raymond
Basilio said.

Education Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla also said many

schools in Porac, Pampanga province, that were damaged by a powerful
earthquake in April remained unrepaired.

Students from those schools were transferred to temporary learning

spaces in the meantime, she said.

Sevilla said the DepEd had spent more than half of its P2-billion quick
response fund to deal with such situations.
More than 27 million students, in both public and private schools, are
enrolled in the K-12 program—from kindergarten to senior high school—
this year.

Officials had been preparing for the opening of classes for months, and
continued to insist on Monday that the schools were sufficiently
prepared.

But 66,000 classrooms that received funding between 2014 and 2018 had
yet to be completed or turned over.

Teacher-to-student ratios have improved, the DepEd said, but there are
33,000 vacancies for teachers this year. 
“We are humans. Humans learn from whatever deficiencies there are,”
Briones said. “Each opening school year we learn new things.”

Teachers pay the price

Resaba said teachers paid the price when schools were not properly
funded.

The sourcing of materials for the dividers at Juan Sumulong Elementary

School was overseen by teachers, many of whom also paid workers to
build the classrooms a couple of weeks before classes started.

Some, like Grade 4 teacher Eva Rivera, were able to secure donations
from incoming parents.

“Some of our buildings are still under construction,” she said. “So this is
the best thing in the meantime.”

In Floridablanca town, Pampanga, Aeta children whose school was

damaged by the 6.1-magnitude earthquake on April 22 attended classes in
makeshift classrooms on a viewing deck in Barangay Nabuklod.
In Ilocos Norte province, provincial schools division superintendent
Vilma Eda said that except for the lack of classrooms in some urban areas
the opening of classes on Monday went smoothly.

The classroom shortage forced the division of classes into shifts—6 a.m. to
noon and noon to 6 p.m.—at West Central Elementary School in Dagupan
City, Pangasinan province.

In the Bicol region, schools had to use temporary spaces and divide
classes into shifts because of delay in the construction of new classrooms
and an increase in the number of students. 
This school year, the region has 1.8 million students, 2.28 percent higher
that 1.7 million last year.

At Daraga National High School in Daraga, Albay province, students

squatted on the floor on the first day of classes.

“Some of them were told to bring their own chairs. Tomorrow I will bring
my own lapel microphone to manage the class,” English teacher Maybelle
Marco said.

The school had 7,500 students, with 70 to 80 students in every classroom.

Classes were also divided into shifts in Cebu City to make up for the lack
of classrooms.

Half-day classes

At Cebu City Central School, 11 of 16 Grade 1 classes would be held for

only half a day this year due to the classroom shortage.

Principal Lyra Illaga said a new schoolbuilding was under construction

and when completed, it would ease the situation.
In Iloilo City, the classroom shortage eased this year with the completion
of new schoolbuildings in time for the opening of classes, according to
Victor de Gracia, DepEd assistant director for Western Visayas.

The teacher shortage was also reduced with the hiring of new teachers,
he said. 
Students at New Labangan Elementary School in Labangan, Zamboanga
del Sur province, were not as lucky. They sat in makeshift classrooms
without walls as classes opened on Monday.

The DepEd and the Department of Public Works and Highways were
aware of conditions in the school, but had yet to do anything to make
things better, according to school head Honey Corpus.—With reports from
Tonette Orejas, Leilanie Adriano, Gabriel Cardinoza, Villamor Visaya Jr., Ma. April
Mier-Manjares, Dale Israel, Nestle Semilla, Nestor Burgos Jr. and Leah Agonoy

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1126414/school-opening-woes-many-
students-few-classrooms#ixzz7dZumlo5g
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
Classroom shortages greet teachers, students
in opening of classes
JUN 3, 2019 3:04 PM PHT
SOFIA TOMACRUZ

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In order to cope, some schools find the need to split classrooms in half to
accommodate students. Teachers say until a more permanent solution is reached,
students' learning will continue to be affected by the lack of facilities.

MANILA, Philippines – As the Department of Education (DepEd) opened a new

school year on Monday, June 3, old problems in the form of cramped spaces and a
lack of classrooms greeted students and teachers once more.
DepEd official opened the academic year for 2019-2020 on Monday by
welcoming over 27 million students who enrolled from kinder to senior high school.

The education department continues to receive more students each year, but not all
schools can keep up with he growth in population of students. (IN PHOTOS: Public
schools open amid ‘increasing number of challenges’)

In Quezon City, for instance, the lack of available classrooms has been a problem for
some 4 years at the Bagong Silangan High School. Teachers have had to split
classrooms in half – forcing the same number of students into a smaller space – to
cope with having a larger number of students enrolled. (READ: How DepEd plans to
address PH classroom shortage)

Bagong Silangan Faculty President John Robido told Rappler that students in Grades
7 and 8 are most affected by this, with around 80 to 100 students occupying a room
for a given class. This is a short-term solution, Robido said, until the school finds
space to build new classrooms for junior high school students.
“Apat na taon itong ginagawa ng aming eskwelahan. Sa dami ng estudyante mula sa
iba’t ibang school…. Yung ginagawa namin, hinati ang classroom para matugonan
ang kanilang pag-aaral. Hindi pwede hindi sila pag-aralin dito kasi naniniwala ako
na ang edukasyon ay para sa lahat,” Robido told Rappler in an interview.

(We’ve been doing this for 4 years. With the number of students we have from other
schools…. What we do is we split the classrooms so they can all attend class and fulfil
their studies. We can’t send them away because education is supposed to be for all.)

As in Bagong Silangan High School, schools all over the country continue to see a
lack of classrooms and facilities. In most cases, public schools also have shifts to
accomodate all grade levels every school day. 
 

 
Addressing this, the DepEd said the lack of classrooms were not considered
“backlogs” by the department, but rather “additional requirements,” seeing as the
number of students increases yearly. 

In 2019, the education department some P501 billion, which will mostly be used for
repair and construction of school buildings, the hiring of teaching and non-teaching
personnel, as well as developing and providing learning materials to students.

Until a more permanent solution is reached, teachers said students’ learning will
continue to be affected by conditions in schools where facilties are wanting. 

“Pag maliit yung classroom, hindi siya madaling matutuo ang bata dahil mainit,
masikip, yung focus ng bata, mababawasan kasi nga di sila
komportable…. Kailangan talaga ng additional room…kailangan din ng expansion
pero wala na kaming space,” Bagong Silangan Filipino Head Gloria Cruz said. 

(If classrooms are small, students cannot learn easily because it’s hot, cramped, and
their focus will waver because they are not comfortable. We really need additional
roooms…we also need to expand but there’s no space left.)

For Grade 7 student Angelyn Marfil, though the tight classrooms may make it difficult
to pay attention, what’s more important, she said, is getting to finish classes. 

“Makakapagtapos naman rin kami ng pag-aaral kahit kalahati naman yun at saka
maganda rin naman madudulot kasi po iyong teacher po namin, sila po yung nag-
aadjust para kami pa rin po ay mapag-tapos,” Marfil said.

(We still get to finish our studies even if the classrooms are small. It’s good because
the teachers adjust to make sure we finish our studies.) – Rappler.com
EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

DepEd lacks 91,000 classrooms for school

year 2022-2023
AUG 11, 2022 11:27 AM PHT
RAPPLER.COM

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To address the problem, the Department of Education will implement class shifting
schedules and set up temporary spaces

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Wednesday,

August 10, that it lacks around 91,000 classrooms  for school year 2022 to 2023.

DepEd Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III told the House committee on basic
education and culture that the figures came from department’s survey conducted
among their regional offices.

It was not mentioned whether the data accounts for classrooms needed should schools
implement physical distancing in the coming school year.
PLAY VIDEO

What’s next?
To address lack of classrooms in time for the opening of classes on August 22,
Densing said that the DepEd will implement class shifting schedules and build
temporary spaces. 

With such interventions, DepEd said the classroom shortage would go down to
40,000. 

In a joint briefing of the DepEd and Office of the Vice President on Wednesday,
DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said their current data showed that areas in Metro
Manila and Calabarzon are still at the student-classroom ratio of 68:1.

“Ang unang strategy natin diyan will be to implement shifting schedules sa kanila.
Hopefully, mga dalawang shifts lang. Kung ‘di talaga kaya, doon tayo
magtatatlo,” Poa said.

(Our first strategy there will be to implement shifting schedules for them. Hopefully,
there would only be two shifts. If not, that’s the time we would have three.)
PLAY VIDEO
As for the temporary learning spaces, Densing said DepEdwill partner with the private
sector and local government units to use basketball courts and tents as temporary
learning spaces.

Each learning space will cost around P180,000, Poa said. 

Densing said the DepEd is “fast-tracking” their strategies to address the potential
shortage but stressed that the opening of classes on August 22 would push through. –
Ashley dela Vega and Almira Coleen/Rappler.com

Ashley dela Vega and Almira Coleen are Rappler interns.

PHILIPPINE INFLATION RATE

IN CHARTS: Inflation eases in Metro

Manila, regions feel pinch
AUG 5, 2022 4:04 PM PHT
RALF RIVAS

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Davao Region posts the highest inflation rate in July at 8.6%, while Metro Manila's
print eases to 5.1%
PLAY VIDEO

MANILA, Philippines– Pesky inflation continued to torment Filipino households,

with the July print rising to 6.4%.

The latest print is higher than most analysts’ estimates of 6.1%.

Inflation in Metro Manila slowed down to 5.1% in July from 5.6% in June. Areas
outside the capital posted an inflation rate of 6.8%, up from 6.3% the previous month.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa attributed the slowdown in Metro Manila to lower
electricity rates. The Manila Electric Company announced lower rates during the
month. Lower global oil prices have tempered some of the price pressures as well.

Inflation on diesel, gasoline, and liquefied petroleum gas is still higher in Metro
Manila compared to the regions. But transportation costs are slightly higher outside
Metro Manila.
Transport costs have also gone up given the recently approved P2 increase in jeepney
fare nationwide.

Bank of the Philippine Islands chief economist Jun Neri said that inflation “will
remain a challenge until the first half of 2023.”

“We are still yet to see the peak in inflation near 7% in October should global price
pressures from oil, energy and food remain substantial,” Neri said.

Food prices increased at a faster rate. Items with the biggest increase in prices for the
month are corn, meat, fish, oils and sugar.

Food prices rose at a faster pace in areas outside Metro Manila, with food inflation
rising to 7%, while Metro Manila posted a slower rate of 5.1%.

Since February, meat and fish prices outside Metro Manila posted a steady rise.
Vegetable prices fell from 14.4% to 6.1%.

Corn (27.9%), bread (6.3%), dairy products (3.8%) and fruits (4.7%) in the regions
also posted higher inflation rates in July. Sugar and other ready-made food products
registered inflation rates of 18.3% and 4.7%, respectively. –Rappler.com

EXCHANGE RATES

Peso closing at P55 vs $1 not enough to boost

exports
JUN 29, 2022 5:45 PM PHT
RALF RIVAS

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A weak peso, in theory, should boost exports. But in a global competition, it will take
more than exchange rates to rise above the rest.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine peso closed at P55.06 against the dollar on
Wednesday, June 29, its weakest since October 2005.

The peso, which started 2022 at P51 to $1, has recently been the worst performer
among Southeast Asian currencies.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort said that
the latest exchange rate movements were partly due to the “healthy downward
correction” of local stocks, which rose for three straight trading days. 

It was also a result of the appreciation of the dollar against global currencies after
continued hawkish signals from some Federal Reserve officials, as well as an increase
in global oil prices.

Here’s why this can be good: In theory, a weak currency should boost export
competitiveness, noted ING Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa.

But the catch is, a weak peso alone won’t cut it.
“Total competitiveness is more than just a mere weakening of the currency as we need
to establish our products as superior to that of competitors on many fronts including
product, customer experience, after sales service, and price point,” Maps said.

Remittance-reliant households may also benefit from the peso’s depreciation. But
Mapa said that gains may be “watered down as cost of living rises significantly due to
red hot inflation.”

Here’s why a weak peso is bad: As of May, inflation has jumped to 5.4%, as global
oil prices pushed other prices up.

The Philippines, as a net importer of oil, will have to shell out more to keep the
economy’s engines running. 

Mapa also noted that foreign debt levels may also inflate and make servicing more
costly. 

The Philippines’ outstanding debt stood at P12.76 trillion. Of the total debt stock, 30%
was sourced externally while 70% were domestic borrowings.
EXPERT SPEAKS

[ANALYSIS] Lalo pang hihina ang piso

kontra dolyar. Bakit?
Why the central bank is dovish: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hiked key
interest rates for two consecutive months, just by 25 basis points each, despite soaring
inflation and a weakened peso.

Despite calls for a bigger hike, the BSP signaled that the economy can stomach high
inflation to support growth.

“The Monetary Board believes that a follow-through increase in the policy rate
enables the BSP to withdraw its stimulus measures while safeguarding
macroeconomic stability amid rising global commodity prices and strong external
headwinds to domestic economic growth,” the BSP said. – Rappler.com

PHILIPPINE INFLATION RATE

IN CHARTS: This is how inflation ruined

Filipinos’ budget in June 2022
JUL 5, 2022 11:20 AM PHT
RALF RIVAS
INFO
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A P1 in 2018 is now worth just P0.87 in 2022

MANILA, Philippines– The Philippines’ inflation rate jumped to 6.1% in June, the
Philippine Statistics Authority announced on Tuesday, July 5. 

The last time inflation went up this high was in November 2018. The numbers look
even more alarming on a per-region basis. 

Inflation in Metro Manila is at 5.6%, lower than the national figure. But inflation
outside the capital is at 6.3%.

All regions posted higher inflation rates, with the Cordillera Administrative Region
and Central Luzon leading at 7.5%. 

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said that the purchasing power of the Philippine
peso has declined. He said that P1 in 2018 is now worth just P0.87 in June 2022.
Filipinos may want to consider biking to work, as transport inflation jumped 17.1%.
This is due to gasoline and diesel prices jumping by a whopping 53.9% and 92.5%,
respectively. (READ: EXPLAINER: How inflation affects you)

As for food in Manila, meat prices posted the highest jump at 9.1% in June from 4.9%
in May. Rice and fruit prices deflated by 0.2% and 4.8%, respectively.

Vegetable prices in June are still high at 13.9%, but this is considerably lower than the
20.1% recorded last May.

If you want to drink with friends, prices will remind you about the state of the
economy. Alcohol and tobacco prices are up 7.8%.

– Rappler.com

EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Parents worry about costs of returning to

face-to-face classes amid rising prices
JUL 29, 2022 8:00 PM PHT
BONZ MAGSAMBOL
INFO
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'Sa ngayon kasi ang mahal ng bilihin at pamasahe. Ngayon, P20 na ang pamasahe
one way. Hindi ko alam kung may mabibili pa sila sa baon nilang P50,' says one
parent struggling to make ends meet

MANILA, Philippines – To make ends meet, 51-year-old Lorenza Sua-an is selling

products online, which she sources from her friends because she does not have enough
capital. The meager salary of her husband, who works as a church caretaker and earns
P6,000 a month, is not enough to feed seven family members living with them. Of
these, five are still studying.

“Maliit lang po ang kita ng asawa ko dito sa simbahan. Hindi pa nga po makasapat
ng isang linggong pagkain,” Sua-an, who hails from Ibaan, Batangas, told Rappler in
a phone interview. (My husband’s income here in the church is small. It’s not enough
for our food expenses for one whole week.)

Sua-an earns P10 to P15 for every product (clothing or food) she is able to
sell. “Bawat araw na maka-P15 ako ay okay na rin kaysa wala,” Sua-an said. (Each
day, I earn P15. It’s better compared to nothing.)
But things will get more difficult for the Sua-an family financially when face-to-face
classes resume on November 2. While Sua-an favors the return to in-person classes,
rising prices of basic commodities is now a major consideration for financially
struggling families like hers.

In her first order as education secretary, Vice President Sara Duterte directed all
public and private schools in the country to transition to five days of face-to-face
classes beginning November 2. Exemptions can, however, be given in “very specific
areas” where blended learning can continue. The Department of Education (DepEd)
said it would give the list of areas after their assessment before October 31, also the
last day of the transition period.

“Sa totoo lang po, ako po ay pabor na pabor sa face-to-face classes. Hindi ko po kasi
masyado maipaliwanag na kapag dumating sa akin ang mga modules,” she said,
recounting the times she scratched her head whenever her children asked for help
regarding their lessons. (READ: Parents bear the brunt of distance learning as classes
shift online)

(Honestly, I am in favor of face-to-face classes. I can’t explain well to my children

their learning modules.)

Sua-an said that before the pandemic, she would give her two children, who were in
their junior high school back then, P50 for their daily school allowance and P30 for
three others, who were grade schoolers. But now, she worries that these won’t be
enough for her children to get by each day in school.

“Sa ngayon kasi ang mahal ng bilihin at pamasahe. Ngayon, P20 na ang pamasahe
one way. Hindi ko alam kung may mabibili pa sila sa baon nilang P50,” she said.
(Now, prices of commodities and transportation fare are high. Now, P20 is just one-
way fare. I don’t know if they will be able to buy something for P50.)

Sua-an is certainly not the only parent thinking of the costs of the return to face-to-
face classes. Some 18 kilometers in Ibaan, 45-year-old Wilma Urbano from Lipa City,
Batangas, is also worried about how her family of six would be able to cope with the
financial burden of sending their children to face-to-face classes.

While she is somehow in a better financial position compared to Sua-an, Urbano still
finds it hard to fulfill the needs of her five children for their education.

Urbano works as a public school teacher but her income is still not enough to feed her
family. Her husband works as building maintenance.
“Ako po ay natatakot. Every time na mag susuweldo is Mister, hindi ko na alam
paano pagkasiyahin ang suweldo,” said Urbano, when she was asked how she plans
to budget their finances when face-to-face classes resume. (I am worried. Every time
my husband receives his salary, I don’t know anymore how I will be able to budget
it.)

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s inflation rate jumped to
6.1% in June. The last time inflation went up this high was in November
2018. Inflation refers to the general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value
of money.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said that the purchasing power of the Philippine
peso has declined. He said that P1 in 2018 is now worth just P0.87 in June 2022.
(READ: IN CHARTS: This is how inflation ruined Filipinos’ budget in June 2022)

Poor families need gov’t help

Sua-an hopes that the government will help poor families like them. While her family
is a member of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, this is still not
enough for their daily needs.

4Ps is the government’s poverty reduction strategy that gives financial help to
extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition, and education,
particularly of children aged 0-14. The 4Ps has two types of cash grants that are given
to beneficiaries.

 Heath grant: P500 per household every month, or a total of P6,000 every year
 Education grant: P300 per child every month for ten months, or a total of
P3,000 every year (A household may register a maximum of three children for
the program.)

“Sana matulungan kami ng gobyerno sa financial help kahit pang-kapital lang para
may sarili na ako at hindi na ako kukuha ng paninda sa mga kaibigan ko. Malaking
tulong ‘yon para at least alam ko kung saan ako kukuha ng pandagdag sa pambaon
ng mga bata sa school,” she told Rappler.

(I hope the government can help us financially even just to provide capital for my
online business so that I would have my own and I wouldn’t need to get products from
my friends. It will be a big help and at least I would know where to source funds for
my children’s school allowance.)
For Urbano, she hopes that the government would strengthen its school-based feeding
program to cover all students, not just those undernourished. This way, she only needs
to give her children daily transportation allowance.

“Malaking tulong po ‘yon. Kasi pamasahe na lang ibibigay ko ‘pag

nagkataon,” Urbano added. (It will be a big help. Because if that happens, I only need
to give them transportation allowance. She has five children who are still studying.)

While the government would offer free rides to students when classes resume, it will
be limited to Metro Manila only. There are no plans yet if this would be replicated in
the provinces, like Batangas where Sua-an and Urbano live. (READ: DOTr to offer
free train rides for students, extends EDSA Carousel buses)

In 2018, two years before the pandemic struck, then-socioeconomic planning

secretary Ernesto Pernia said that an average Filipino family of five would need an
income of P42,000 to live above the poverty line.

High time return to in-person classes

The return to face-to-face classes was long overdue for the Philippines as the current
distance learning setup seemed to be not working for the country’s unprepared
education system. (READ: Distance learning in the Philippines: A year of hits and
misses)

There have been studies that showed students are “learning less” under the distance
learning setup. Experts and lawmakers were alarmed by the learning losses brought by
the pandemic.

“We have always maintained that considering the low level of learning, our students’
need to catch up, and psychosocial needs of our children, we need to shift to face-to-
face classes like almost all of the countries in the world. We shouldn’t also disregard
the lessons from the past two years,” Philippine Business for Education executive
director Love Basillote said.

Over two years into the pandemic, the Philippines is among the few countries in the
world where schools have not fully opened for in-person classes. As of May 3, there
were about 26,344 schools nationwide that held in-person classes last school year.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, July 27, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said
that they are optimistic that almost all schools would be able to hold face-to-face
classes for school year 2022 to 2023. There are approximately 60,000 public and
private schools in the country.
School begins on August 22. They are given three options for their transition to five
days of face-to-face classes before November 2.

 Five days of face-to-face classes

 Blended learning
o Three days of in-person classes and two days of distance learning, or
four days of in-person classes and one day of distance learning
 Full distance learning

The DepEd said that these options will be implemented by schools only until October
31, 2022.

‘Unprepared’

While it is high time for Philippine schools to return to face-to-face classes, Sara
Duterte’s order drew criticism for supposedly not having sufficient health protocols in
place.

But for the Vice President, Filipinos are more than prepared now since it has been
over two years since the pandemic began.

“The difference now is that it’s easier now for Filipinos to live through the pandemic,
they already accepted the mandatory wearing of face mask. They already know the
basic health protocols. They already memorized these protocols because the
government has been stressing its importance for two year now,” Duterte said.
(READ: Young students tend to take off masks in face-to-face classes – DepEd)
MUST READ

Vaccination not required when schools shift

to in-person classes
Speaking to Rappler during a protest action against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s
first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 25, Alliance of Concerned
Teachers secretary general Raymond Basilio said the government needs to show
parents and students that the county is ready to return to face-to-face classes.

He criticized DepEd order 34 for supposedly excluding health protocol plans in

schools for in-person classes.

“Naiintindihan natin ‘yung agam-agam ng mga magulang at mga estudyante kasi

may pandemya pa rin eh. Kaya ang kailangang gawin ng gobyerno ay ipakita nito sa
sambayanan na ligtas ang pagbabalik eskuwela,” Basilio said.

(We understand the concern of parents and students because there’s still a pandemic.
That’s why the government needs to prove to the public that it is now safe to go back
to school.)

While Marcos said a lot of “promising” plans for the education sector during his
SONA, he offered no details on his administration’s concrete plans for the safe return
of students to schools. (READ: Are PH schools ready for face-to-face classes during
pandemic?)

“Namomoroblema nga ang mga teachers. Wala ng alcohol. Ang thermometer na

stuck sa 36.1 kasi wala ng baterya. Burado na ang mga foot markers. Kaya
naiintindihan namin ang mga magulang,” said Vladimer Quetua, a senior high school
teacher in Quezon City.
(Teachers are worried. We’ve run out of alcohol supplies. Thermometers are stuck at
36.1°C because there are no more batteries. Foot markers have also been erased.
That’s why we understand the concerns of parents.)

There are still three months left before the country fully returns to face-to-face classes,
and parents, students, and teachers have one wish: for the government to make them
feel it’s safe to go back to their campuses. – with reports from Almira Coleen and
Ashley dela Vega/Rappler.com

DISTANCE LEARNING

Distance learning in the Philippines: A year of

hits and misses
JUL 20, 2021 8:37 PM PHT
BONZ MAGSAMBOL

INFO
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Parents, teachers, and the education department agree: Allow face-to-face classes in
areas where it is safe to do so

Every morning, Adelaide Dolar would ask a favor: could she charge her mobile phone
at her neighbor’s house? She didn’t have electricity at home, and her children needed
her gadget for online class work. She did this for the whole duration of the school year
2020-2021. 

The pandemic made it difficult for financially struggling families like hers to fulfill
their children’s needs for distance learning, the 43-year-old vendor from Batangas
province told Rappler in an interview on Sunday, July 18.

Despite this, she made sure that her children would not miss school the past year,
when the government enforced a remote setup due to pandemic lockdowns.
Her three children – all basic education students – were enrolled under the modular
learning system. The eldest, who was in Grade 10, needed to occasionally attend
online classes. The younger ones, however, couldn’t just answer the modules
distributed by the school; they also needed to watch video lessons uploaded on
YouTube or do research for their classes.

With a meager income of P300 ($5.91) a day from selling afternoon snacks to her
neighbors, Dolar had to budget this amount between their meals and an allotment of
mobile data for her children’s online classes.

“If they have online classes, I need to have P200 for internet ‘load.’ If my eldest son
needs to attend a Google meet, I need to buy internet load worth P50 per hour. Of
course, there’s also research that needs to be done, so the P50 load won’t be enough –
that’s why we’re spending P200 for it. It will be registered for three days,” she said.

To make a living, Dolar and her husband sell snacks every afternoon in their
neighborhood. Her husband has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, so he cannot
help that much with household finances. Dolar also does laundry services just to get
by.

Not good for mental health

Aside from the financial burden brought by remote education, Dolar said that her
children’s mental health had been affected. Without teachers explaining the lessons to
students, she had to change her morning routine so she could guide and motivate her
children to answer their learning modules. That delayed her preparation of food she
would sell in the afternoon.

“They’re looking for the [in-person] school. They said in-person classes are better.
They miss their interaction with their classmates. They are unmotivated to study.
What will happen next school year? Will we be in this kind of situation again?” Dolar
asked.

“They were culture-shocked. They are not used to this kind of situation. They’re
hoping to interact with their teachers and their classmates,” she added.

In a recent video interview released by the Ateneo School of Government, Professor

Carmel Abao said that aside from the issue of accessibility, remote learning also had
an impact on students’ mental health.

“There’s an issue on the impact of this kind of learning on mental health. I still think
that this is not advisable. Our kids are not made for this kind of isolation. Even if you
do perform well in online learning, it’s different if you’re able to see, feel, and talk
with your classmates,” she said.

Students didn’t learn as much

In a Rappler Talk interview on Friday, July 16, senior high school graduate Cheska
Avenido said she found the remote learning setup really difficult.

“Besides the adjustment under the new modes of learning, sometimes we ask
ourselves if studying during a pandemic is still worth it, because there are a lot of
uncertainties,” she said.

Dolar shared that sentiment, saying her children didn’t learn that much in the remote
setup, as she could not teach them properly. Though Dolar graduated with a degree in
computer science, she wasn’t able to practice any related profession.

“I think they’re learning, but learning with teachers is far way better. Sometimes, I
find it really hard to understand their lessons. Face-to-face classes is still the best way
to go,” Dolar said.

Aside from the school system being unprepared for the shift, remote education also
posed a major challenge for students who did not have anyone to facilitate learning at
home, or whose parents were not capable of guiding them due to lack of
knowledge. (READ: Parents bear the brunt of distance learning as classes shift online)
PLAY VIDEO

Dolar said that, most times, she was the one attending her children’s online classes,
especially in mathematics, so she could explain the concepts to them when answering
their modules.

An online survey conducted by the multisectoral group Movement for Safe, Equitable,
Quality and Relevant Education (SEQuRE) found that 86.7% of students under
modular learning, 66% under online learning, and 74% under blended learning said
they “learned less” under the alternative modes of learning compared with the
traditional face-to-face setup.

The survey also found that only 5.4% under the blended learning, 5.7% under modular
learning, and 9.1% under online learning “learned more.”

The survey was conducted from June 25 to July 12 among 1,278 teachers, 1,299
Grades 4 to 12 students, and 3,172 parents.
Teachers’ Dignity Coalition chairperson Benjo Basas said in a Rappler interview that,
while the teachers would always do their best to teach students under any
circumstance, they didn’t have any control on how students would respond.

“Either of those modalities, whether online or modular, it was difficult to learn. It’s
difficult for the students. It’s also difficult for the teachers because we’re not trained
for this system,” he said.

In March, senators questioned a report from the Department of Education (DepEd)

that said 99% of public school students obtained a passing grade in the first quarter of
the school year (October-December 2020).

The lawmakers were baffled by the high passing rate because many students struggled
with distance learning. They cited instances when it was the parents or household
members who ended up answering the exercises in the learning modules.
MUST READ

In remote learning, some students pay

someone else to do their classwork
Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said it was likely that teachers were
being considerate and therefore gave students high passing rates.

When pandemic is over, Basas said, teachers would have a tougher job because the
students will need to catch up on the level of learning that corresponds to their grade
or class.

“We have a lot of catching up to do because we’re promoting students to the next
level even though we’re unsure if they do actually learn. But then we cannot do
something about it because we’re asked to be considerate since we’re in a pandemic,”
he said.

Erroneous modules, not enough gadgets

Education advocates have said that the pandemic highlighted the gaps in the
Philippine education system. This was evident in the erroneous learning modules
distributed to public school students during the pandemic.
“Painful” grammatical errors, wrong math equations, and depictions of gender
stereotypes alarmed a public already worried over the quality of education that over
24 million students were receiving during the pandemic.

Aside from learning module blunders, Ateneo’s Abao said the pandemic exposed the
“cracks” in the country’s education system.

“If the problem before the pandemic was the lack of classrooms, the problem now is
the lack of computers. We have a problem with the quantity and quality which were
magnified by the pandemic,” she said.

Better than academic freeze

Still, there were those who appreciated that the Department of Education (DepEd) and
the Commission on Higher Education were able to go ahead with the school year amid
the pandemic.

Dolar said that, even though the implementation was flawed, distance learning was
still better than having an academic break. (READ: School time out during a
pandemic? Pros and cons of an academic break)

“They have nothing to do at home, that’s why it’s okay to have distance learning. But
we hope that they can improve the implementation and provide support to parents,
teachers, and students,” she said.

Professor Jayeel Cornelio, director of Ateneo de Manila University’s development

studies program, said that while remote education provided an opportunity for those in
the academe to be creative, it would not be as effective if not all had equal access to
the tools needed for the digital shift.

“As a professor, [remote education for me] is a good. We take advantage of every
platform available, but the question is – who is winning and losing here? The reality is
that if you come from an elite private school, you can easily cope with it. But we
cannot say that flexible learning is the way to go for small private schools and state
universities,” he said.

Students and teachers remain safe from the virus while they continue learning from
their homes. Despite the challenges brought by remote learning, senior high school
graduate Avenido said she still felt unsafe to return to face-to-face classes.

“I’d be comfortable to return to face-to-face classes if the government finds better

solutions to our pandemic problems. If they can find ways to contain virus spread and
ramp up vaccination, it’s the only way I will feel safe to join face-to-face classes,” she
said.

Over a year into the pandemic, the Philippines is still struggling to contain the deadly
virus that has so far infected more than 1.5 million and has killed over 26,000 of its
population. The country is bracing for a possible surge in infections, as the threat of a
more virulent Delta variant looms.

Finding local solutions

Regina Sibal, lead convenor of education advocacy group Aral Pilipinas, said that,
aside from the slow response, the government’s top-down approach in its policy
making was another barrier in the reopening of schools. She said that the government
should not be implementing a “blanket rule” across the country.

“Our remote learning now is for all schools and no provision is given to other areas
that are able to do face-to-face classes. Disparity in education access has been more
pronounced now, especially in marginalized areas that lack resources,” she said.

Sibal said that what government should be doing now is to provide local communities
with guidelines on finding solutions specific to their areas and situations.
(READ: Empower LGUs to make decisions on school opening – advocacy group)

President Rodrigo Duterte turned down several times calls for face-to-face classes due
to the threat of the pandemic.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones, however, was hopeful the DepEd would get the
go signal to start limited face-to-face classes in some 100 schools it had identified.
She was banking on the vaccination of teachers and the planned inoculation of
students.
MUST READ

Are PH schools ready for face-to-face classes

during pandemic?
The DepEd had said that it was preparing for “the delivery of quality education no
matter what the circumstances will be in the coming months.”

Public schools in the country will start classes for school year 2021-2022
on September 13, while private schools can start as early as June since they closed the
past school year earlier.

“Enhanced” blended distance learning will continue to be implemented. But will the

government make it right for millions of students this time around? – Rappler.com

Editors’ Note: All Filipino quotes were translated into English.

7