Reelectionist Senator Joel Villanueva welcomed on Saturday, March 12 the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to allow 100 percent classroom capacity for in-person classes for higher education institutions (HEIs).

‘’Our college students have spent the last two years under a flexible learning modality where in-person classes are limited to laboratory classes on specific programs,’’ Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Higher, Technical and Vocational Education Committee, said.

‘’Now that vaccination rates are increasing, we can fully implement in-person classes which could help address the learning crisis in our country,’’ he added.

‘’Let’s just keep in mind that we are still in a pandemic, so we have to ensure health and safety in our schools. Our schools should continue to enforce strict implementation of minimum public health standards. And to embrace the new normal of learning, our schools should remain capable in implementing flexible learning options for its students,’’ he stressed.

Villanueva then urged state universities and colleges (SUCs) to fully increase the P2.5-billion allocation that senators have pushed to be included in the 2022 national budget for the implementation of the smart campus development and operationalization of face-to-face classes.

‘’We are also asking for government agencies to support our teachers who are also physically going back to school and in-person classes. In addition to their health and safety, let’s look into how we can help them face the rising prices of fuel and consumer goods,’’ he said.