Senators on Monday questioned the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) over its decision to prioritize the reopening of cinemas but not the resumption of face-to-face classes.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the government should listen to health experts in determining how and which type of establishments should be allowed to reopen.
“I can't understand the IATF’s decision to allow cinemas etcetera, to open but not our schools,” Recto said in a statement.
“Education is an essential service compared to amusement that is not essential,” he lamented.
Recto said whether or not cinemas will reopen “today or on March 1,” it is essential for the government’s task force against COVID-19 to listen to the advise of health experts.
“Whether today or March 1 to me is not the issue. IATF should listen to our health experts. Our health experts should determine protocols to open our schools as soon as possible,” Recto said.
Senator Imelda “Imee” Marcos, likewise, questioned the latest policy and asked whether allowing cinemas to reopen would contribute to the education of Filipino students.
“Tatalino kaya ang mga batang Pilipino? Kung ang tanging matututunan na lang nila ay manood ng sine at ang paglalaro ng games sa mga arcade? (Will that make Filipino children more smarter? If all they will learn is to watch movies and play games inside arcades?!),” Marcos pointed asked.
“Nakakaawa naman ang mga estudyante natin! Hindi na nga sila makapag-aral at walang pasok o face-to-face sa paaralan, hindi rin naman kayang mag remote learning dahil naghihikahos ang telecoms signal at wifi natin (I pity our students! They cannot go to school nor study through remote learning because our telecom and Wi-Fi signals are so poor),” she stressed.
Marcos said it would be better if the government prioritizes the reopening of face-to-face classes while observing maximum health protocols.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan also echoed the same sentiment: “We should listen to the experts and those on the ground.”
Pangilinan said it is imperative for the government to improve its testing, tracing, isolation and execute the vaccination program well to help the country’s economy catch up to pre-COVID levels.
“Kung hindi maayos ang mga ito, lalo lang ding dadami ang COVID cases sa bansa (if they fail to fix this, more COVID cases will rise in the country),” he said.
“Magulo ang mga pagpapatupad ng mga health protocols dahil paiba-iba ang mga pahayag (the current health protocols are confusing because they issue different statements),” Pangilinan lamented.