By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Sixty schools in Negros Occidental are ready to implement the expanded face-to-face (F2F) classes once the alert status in Western Visayas is de-escalated to Alert Level 1 or 2.

Records from the Department of Education Region 6 (DepEd-6) showed that the division of Negros Occidental has 16 schools ready for F2F classes.

Data also showed that 15 schools in Silay City, 11 in Sagay City, eight in San Carlos City, four in Cadiz City, three in Escalante City, two in Himamaylan City and one in Victorias City are also ready for the expanded F2F classes.

DepEd-6 regional director Ramir Uytico said they would implement the expanded F2F classes if the alert status in all provinces in the region will go down to Alert Level 2.

Meanwhile, during the regional press conference held recently, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said they have identified about 6,000 schools nationwide for the F2F classes but most of them are in areas that are under Alert Level 3, where F2F classes at all levels are prohibited.

DepEd data showed that only 304 schools are ready to resume the limited F2F classes, being under Alert Level 2. They are in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and the National Capital Region.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma, for his part, said regional directors no longer have to seek a go-signal from the central office to resume the expanded F2F activities.

He said so long as they qualify under the School Safety Assessment Tool and their area classification has been de-escalated to Alert Level 1 or 2, they could return to the classrooms. Briones also noted that based on their survey, the majority of parents want teachers handling F2F classes to be vaccinated.

Data from DepEd-6 showed that 90.81 percent or 76,755 of its 84, 518 personnel are vaccinated and only 9.19 percent have not received their COVID-19 jabs. (With a report from PNA)/DGB, WDJ