By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is not against the plan of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to fully resume face-to-face (F2F) classes in all levels by November of this year.

In a phone patch interview with the governor, he said if Marcos wants the full resumption of F2F classes, then the Department of Education (DepEd) must exert all efforts to make it happen.

With COVID-19 vaccination among minors being one of the key factors for the resumption of F2F classes, Lacson said that as of present the province had yet to cover the vaccination of minors in the province.

He said he plans to hold a meeting with the relevant parties in order to find a way to expand the vaccination coverage for minors in the province.

“Right now [the province] already has F2F classes pero minimal pa, I understand  what the president wants is 100 percent F2F, so I will call a meeting with DepEd to discuss if it is possible,” the governor said.

Last week, Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio announced her plan for full F2F classes by November during their first executive meeting last week.

Marcos is also encouraging the public, especially among the youth, to get a booster shot against COVID-19 in order to combat the less harmful but more contagious Omicron variant.

The Department of Health, meanwhile, has already approved giving booster shots for minors aged 12 to 17 years old./DGB, WDJ