Face-to-face classes for 24 colleges, universities OK’d

MANILA, Philippines — Limited face-to-face classes have been approved in 24 higher education institutions (HEIs) offering allied health degree programs beginning the second semester of the current school year, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said.

From an initial six HEIs, CHED chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said an additional 18 colleges and universities have complied with the joint guidelines issued by the CHED and the Department of Health (DOH).

“These HEIs have fully complied with the CHED-DOH guidelines and have been inspected by CHED and their local government units (LGUs), so they can now bring their 3rd and 4th year students for hands-on training and laboratory classes in a limited face-to-face system,” said De Vera.

Approved for limited face-to-face classes were the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte; Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) campuses in Pampanga, Laguna and Quezon City; Manila Central University (MCU); Adventist University of the Philippines in Cavite; De La Salle Health and Medical Science Institute in Cavite and the University of Perpetual Help-Dr. Jose G. Tamayo Medical University in Laguna.

Also approved were the Naga College Foundation in Camarines Sur; West Visayas State University in Iloilo; Central Philippine University (CPU) in Iloilo; Iloilo Doctors’ College of Medicine; the University of Iloilo; Cebu Institute of Medicine and the University of Cebu School of Medicine.

Completing the list were Blancia Foundation College Inc. in Zamboanga del Sur; Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro and the Liceo de Cagayan University in Cagayan de Oro.

CHED had previously approved the conduct of limited face-to-face classes for some subjects at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila; University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City; Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health in Pasay City; OLFU campus in Valenzuela and St. Louis University (SLU) in Baguio.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) also approved the conduct of limited face-to-face classes at the University of the Philippines Manila campus.

“CHED will continue to monitor these HEIs and I am confident that they will provide safe and healthy spaces for their students in the coming months,” De Vera said.

Earlier, CHED said that only selected allied health-related degree programs were prioritized to conduct limited face-to-face classes to enable students to achieve key learning outcomes on specialized laboratory courses and hospital-based clinical clerkship or practicum and to provide additional manpower for the country’s health care system.

Among those prioritized were select subjects in medicine, nursing, medical technology or medical laboratory science, physical therapy, midwifery and public health programs.

Only students aged 20 years and above who are enrolled in the priority degree programs and courses will be allowed to take limited face-to-face classes.

Students who will take part in face-to-face classes or activities shall also be registered by their HEIs or health facilities with PhilHealth or equivalent medical insurance that covers medical expenses related to COVID-19.

For HEIs in areas under modified general community (MGCQ), CHED may issue an authorization to conduct limited face-to-face classes upon compliance with the identified requirements and the submission of the application to concerned regional offices.

Meanwhile, those in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) may only receive such authorization if they have base hospitals catering to COVID-19 patients.

No intern shall be allowed to rotate in the emergency room, out-patient department and the COVID wards, it added.

The conduct of limited face-to-face classes is not mandatory, with degree programs and courses not identified as priority continuing to be delivered through flexible distance learning modalities.

Vaccination centers

Six HEIs that have retrofitted facilities and are safe spaces are partnering with their LGUs to allow their facilities to serve as vaccination centers during the first wave of vaccinations, CHED said.

These include the campuses of UST and MCU in Manila, OLFU in Valenzuela, La Salle in Cavite, SLU in Baguio and CPU in Iloilo.

“We are encouraging the other HEIs to also offer their facilities as the country gears up for expanded vaccination of senior citizens, essential workers, teachers and government personnel starting the second quarter of the year,” said De Vera.