By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After the Negros Occidental Provincial Board recently passed a resolution urging the Department of Education to end the school year early amid the ongoing threat from the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, the local legislative body affirmed regular session will proceed as usual.
Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who presides over the body, said, “We should just do our jobs.”
Earlier this week, the Senate suspended their plenary session for a day after health authorities announced the number of Covid-19 cases in the country rose to 20.
Meanwhile, Board Member Agustin Bascon, who chairs the Provincial Board Committee on Education, yesterday called on organizers of sporting events to temporarily suspend such activities.
“It is a supreme sacrifice to prevent the virus from spreading,” the provincial official said. “Although it is not yet in Negros, we should [take] precautionary measures.”
He also noted, with classes suspended in Metro Manila, reports have shown students have been visiting shopping malls during the time off, and encouraged local mall management to limit entry for students.
However, he acknowledged, “Malls are open for everybody,” adding, “Government is not in the business of telling them what to do.”/DGB, WDJ