A Makabayan lawmaker has expressed alarm over the optional wearing of face masks in public schools, saying this directive from the Department of Education (DepEd) endangers the lives of pupils and teacher alike.

"Allowing the optional wearing of facemasks in schools does not provide teachers and students the safe reopening of classes," said House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro in a statement Thursday, Nov. 3.

"We are still under the Covid pandemic and data on positive cases may be underreported. Allowing optional wearing of facemasks in schools may put many lives of children and teachers in danger," she said.

Wednesday, Nov. 2 marked the return of the full-week face-to-face classes in public schools since the country was struck by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Incidentally, the national government has also been easing its masking protocols in both the outdoor and indoor setting, leading to DepEd's announcement that it would allow voluntary use of face masks in public schools.

"The DepEd should at least implement minimum health standards in schools, especially wearing face masks since it cannot even provide adequate facilities to implement proper social distancing. Cramped classrooms also fail to provide proper ventilation," the militant solon noted.

She said that the government "must first address the overcrowding in classrooms, the lack of school health facilities and school nurses, the poor ventilation in classrooms, and the lack of a medical fund for infected teachers and personnel before doing away with face masks".

"Ensuring a safe school environment not only protects teachers and students from diseases, but it also improves the quality of education our students receive and a safer work environment for teachers and school personnel," Castro concluded.