DepEd, DOH reject calls to postpone school opening
05/30/2009 | 10:27 AM
MANILA, Philippines — School opening will push through as scheduled on June 1, the Department of Education (DepEd) said, rejecting last minute calls to postpone the opening of classes due to the A(H1N1) threat.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz said the decision was in line with a recommendation of a task force, which includes the Department of Health (DOH), to refer to an alert system as basis for suspending classes due to A(H1N1) threat.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III supported the DepEd decision. Postponing the opening of classes would only cause unnecessary panic, he said.
“Kung sabihing ipo-postpone natin (ang opening sa) 43,000 schools, walang batayan yan, magpa-panic ang mga tao. Ang implication nito mabigat (If we order the postponement of classes, this will affect 43,000 schools nationwide, especially if it turns out there is no basis for giving the order. This will only trigger panic. It has very grim implications)," he said in an interview on dzRH radio.
He said the A(H1N1) influenza alert system for schools will be better than a nationwide announcement to suspend classes, a move that he said may cause panic.
Earlier reports said the A(H1N1) warning system for schools will be similar to tropical storm signals, from Alert Levels 1 through 4.
“Ang ginawa naming dito bumuo kami ng A(H1N1) influenza alert system in schools. Bawa’t iskwelahan on the basis of this alert sila magdesisyon kung kailangan isuspindi, may guideline (What we did was to draw up an A/H1N1 alert system in schools. Using the guidelines in the alert system, schools can decide whether to suspend classes or not)," he said.
On Friday, Duque confirmed four new cases of A(H1N1), bringing to 14 the number of confirmed cases in the Philippines.
But he said that as of Saturday, at least three of the confirmed cases had already tested negative following repeated tests.
Meanwhile, Duque reiterated his warning against dengue as the rainy season sets in.
He said the public must be more wary of dengue than A(H1N1) as there had been 57 dengue-related deaths recorded so far this year.
“Bed rest lang at ito kusang nawawala pero pag di inagapan pwede ikamatay (You just need bed rest for dengue but if you don’t address it soonest, there is a chance of death)," he said. - GMANews.TV
Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz said the decision was in line with a recommendation of a task force, which includes the Department of Health (DOH), to refer to an alert system as basis for suspending classes due to A(H1N1) threat.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III supported the DepEd decision. Postponing the opening of classes would only cause unnecessary panic, he said.
“Kung sabihing ipo-postpone natin (ang opening sa) 43,000 schools, walang batayan yan, magpa-panic ang mga tao. Ang implication nito mabigat (If we order the postponement of classes, this will affect 43,000 schools nationwide, especially if it turns out there is no basis for giving the order. This will only trigger panic. It has very grim implications)," he said in an interview on dzRH radio.
He said the A(H1N1) influenza alert system for schools will be better than a nationwide announcement to suspend classes, a move that he said may cause panic.
Earlier reports said the A(H1N1) warning system for schools will be similar to tropical storm signals, from Alert Levels 1 through 4.
“Ang ginawa naming dito bumuo kami ng A(H1N1) influenza alert system in schools. Bawa’t iskwelahan on the basis of this alert sila magdesisyon kung kailangan isuspindi, may guideline (What we did was to draw up an A/H1N1 alert system in schools. Using the guidelines in the alert system, schools can decide whether to suspend classes or not)," he said.
On Friday, Duque confirmed four new cases of A(H1N1), bringing to 14 the number of confirmed cases in the Philippines.
But he said that as of Saturday, at least three of the confirmed cases had already tested negative following repeated tests.
Meanwhile, Duque reiterated his warning against dengue as the rainy season sets in.
He said the public must be more wary of dengue than A(H1N1) as there had been 57 dengue-related deaths recorded so far this year.
“Bed rest lang at ito kusang nawawala pero pag di inagapan pwede ikamatay (You just need bed rest for dengue but if you don’t address it soonest, there is a chance of death)," he said. - GMANews.TV
