THE Department of Education (DepEd) has called for a more relaxed protocols for the conduct of in-person classes following the de-escalation of various areas to Alert Level 1, the lowest quarantine status in the country, amid the decline in Covid-19 cases.In her report during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People Address Monday evening, Feb. 28, 2022, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said eased protocols for face-to-face classes will allow more schools to re-open.She said of the 6,213 schools that are qualified to conduct in-person classes, 1,726 are already operational.Briones said they will meet with Department of Health (DOH) officials on Friday, March 4, to discuss the matter to ensure the safety of the students and prevent the resurgence of cases while gradually allowing face-to-face classes.She said they are also further studying the blended learning system to make the students digitally ready given the global technology development, which was further boosted amid the pandemic.She said blended learning depends on the capability of the schools.Metro Manila, Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Kalinga, Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela, Quirino, Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac, Cavite, Laguna, Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City, Romblon, Naga City, Catanduanes, Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras, Siquijor, Biliran, Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin and Davao City have been placed under Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15.Under Alert Level 1, all restrictions, including venue in all businesses or transportation capacity and travel, are lifted.The public only need to follow the minimum health protocols, particularly the wearing of masks and observance of physical distancing.Schools in various areas, including the NCR, have resumed limited face-to-face classes in November 2021.Based on the guidelines approved earlier by Duterte, kindergarten classes will be allowed up to 12 students, while Grade 1 to 3 classes will have a maximum of 16 students. Classes may last up to three hours.Technical vocational classes, on the other hand, can have 20 students at a time.The DepEd aims to expand the face-to-face classes by March 7.The DOH 7 also expressed its support for the plan of the Cebu City Government to resume face-to-face classes in 13 identified schools.DOH 7 Chief pathologist Dr. Mary Jean Loreche told SunStar Cebu Tuesday, March 1, that the resumption of in-person classes shows that people are now learning to live with the Covid-19 pandemic.Loreche added that the vaccination rates in the mountain barangays also showed favorable numbers.However, the conduct of in-person classes needs to be monitored closely to make sure that the minimum health protocols will be followed.According to the DepEd 7, there will be 474 schools across the region that will resume on separate dates after they have complied with the different requirements.DepEd 7 Director Salustino Jimenez previously mentioned that there are 108 selected schools in the entire Province of Cebu that will resume their face-to-face classes by March 7.In Cebu City, Councilor Joel Garganera said schools located in upland barangays were chosen to be the pilot facilities for the resumption of in-person classes since Covid-19 cases in these areas are few.Garganera added that the students and teachers are isolated in the sense that they belong to just one barangay.The identified schools are Sibugay Integrated School, Pamutan Integrated School, Mangabon Elementary School, Cantipla Integrated School, Tabunan Integrated School, Sinsin National High School, Deosis Elementary School (Buot), Lusaran National High School, Tagbao National HighSchool, Taptap Integrated School, Sinsin Elementary School, Adlaon Integrated School and Bitlang Integrated School. (IRT / TPM / SunStar Philippines)