The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday debunked claims that learners drowned in Laguna while delivering modules and appealed to the public to “thoroughly check the information” first before sharing information.
“ would like to shed light on misinformation being spread on the passing of a learner along with three other out-of-school youth in Binan, Laguna,” DepEd said in a statement.
DepEd said that “contrary to news items and social media posts,” the incident reports of Schools Division Office (SDO) of Binan and the police stated that the “victims did not drown in an attempt to submit self-learning modules.”
Citing the police report, DepEd noted that the children “went out to deliver clothes to the fisherman father of two of the victims.” This information, the agency said, was “confirmed by the fisherman father himself.”
DepEd also maintained that on the day of the said incident, the public was already informed that “schools were closed due to recent typhoons and flooding and thus, retrieval of the learning materials were also suspended.”
To date, DepEd said that it has already reached out to the concerned media outlet to rectify or delete the said article claiming that the children drowned while submitting modules. “We also appeal to everyone that we should thoroughly check the information we are reporting to the public,” DepEd said.
DepEd said that it is “saddened to learn about their sudden passing, and we are sending our deepest condolences to the grieving families and friends of the victims as we pray for their eternal repose.”
The DepEd Central Office is also currently coordinating with the SDO of Biñan City for assistance - which will be provided by the field office in coordination with private partners - as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, DepEd reiterates its earlier directive to field offices to continue implementing academic ease measures in the distance learning set up to ensure the safety and well-being of students, teaching and non-teaching personnel especially during these times.
“We must not compromise anyone's health and safety in our mission to deliver quality education,” the DepEd stressed.