The threat of the Delta coronavirus variant is the "monkey wrench" that prevents the government from allowing the resumption of face-to-face classes in the country, according to President Duterte.
And given such virus threat, the President has asked for forgiveness from parents over the delay in the education of the students.
Duterte, in a televised address Monday, June 28, explained that he could not yet allow the students to physically return to school for their own health and safety. He asserted that he could not gamble with the lives of the students as the country continued to battle the coronavirus outbreak.
"Ako naman naghingi ng patawad sa inyong lahat sa mga nanay at tatay kasi ma-delay ang education ng mga bata. Patawarin ninyo ako dahil hindi ko kaya magbigay ng pahintulot na puwede na silang normal sa eskwelahan. Kasi kung magka-disgrasyahan, buhay ito (I ask for forgiveness from mothers and fathers because the education of the children will be delayed. Forgive me because I cannot allow the return of normal school. Because if any mishap happens, lives are at stake)," Duterte said.
"Delayed lang ang edukasyon ng bata (The education of the children is delayed) but it will normalize one of these days but I cannot gamble, I said, with the life of our children. Mahirap 'yan kasi ako ang mananagot sa lahat (It's difficult because I will be held responsible)," he added.
Duterte said he had "no problem" with the Department of Education's move to bring "normalcy" in the education of students but he expressed concern about the danger posed by the highly contagious Delta variant. He said he would take responsibility if anything happens to the students.
"Itong sa Department of Education, they are leaning on just go back to face-to-face classes. They want normalcy in the running of the education of the young. Sang-ayon ako. Walang problema, Whatever is convenient or comfortable para sa bata, nandoon ako (I agree with that. There's no problem. Whatever is convent or comfortable for the children, I'm there)," he said.
"Kaya lang there's monkey wrench in the government machinery, humihinto kasi. Ang monkey wrench dyan is the COVID-19 D. Ngayon lang 'yan lumabas at lumaganap na doon sa Great Britain at India. hindi malayo baka dadating dito sa atin (But there's a monkey wrench in the government machinery, it stops. The monkey wrench is COVID-19 D. It now came out and spread in Great Britain and India. It won't be long before it may reach us)," he said.
"Lahat ng problema sa Pilipinas, dito 'yan sa, the buck stops here. Hindi na ako makaturo ng ibang tao (All the problems of the Philippines, the buck stops here. I cannot point to someone else)," he said.
Duterte also asked for an apology from Education Secretary Leonor Briones over his decision against the resumption of in-person classes. "I cannot allow face-to-face classes not until i get a clear picture of how this COVID-19 works on the health of our people," he said.
Duterte said the government has been forced to implement stricter measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country. He noted the Delta variant was considered "more aggressive and more fatal" compared to the original strain.
READ: Duterte rejects resumption of face-to-face classes until everyone is vaccinated
In his televised address last week, the President said he would only allow face-to-face classes once everyone has been vaccinated against the virus. He told Briones that he could not put at risk the health of the children due to the Delta variant threat.
Briones said the education department respected the decision of the President.
The country has shifted to alternative forms of learning, such as online education, after the government prohibited face-to-face classes last year. The DepEd earlier proposed a pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes in low risk areas but the President remained opposed to the idea.
More than 1.37 million cases of infections have been recorded in the country so far. A case surge has been detected in several parts of the country, prompting authorities to renew calls to follow health regulations against the virus spread.
READ: Briones respects Duterte’s decision not to allow face-to-face classes for now