Both Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas have expressed hesitation on the opening of classes in August this year.
The Department of Health (DOH-6) announced earlier this month that school year 2020-2021 will open on August 24, either through physical or virtual classes.
Defensor said it might still not be safe for learners and teachers to go back to school starting the day set by the DepEd.
“Kon indi man lang kita sigurado sa epidemiology sang aton ginabantayan, ibutang ta nalang sa sigurado,” Defensor stressed.
“Pwede man na kahulat ang aton eskwelahan. Ano gid bala ka dako nga risgo ang himuon mo para para sa pag-eskwela sang kabataan ta?”
The governor believes that it would be best if both public and private schools will reopen next year.
“Let us focus on surviving this (COVID-19),” Defensor said.
Treñas, meanwhile, told schools not to force learners to attend classes in August.
“There is still presence of virus and really because of the great possibility of transmission because of failure of physical distancing,” he said.
“What is one year closure anyway, it is about lives we are taking into consideration,” Treñas added.
Defensor and Treñas ordered the suspension of classes in Iloilo last March as part of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease caused by the new coronavirus.IMT
