BAGUIO CITY – The Summer Capital is still classified as ‘low risk’ in terms of Covid-19 infections, but Mayor Benjamin Magalong is expecting an increase in active cases in the coming weeks due to face-to-face classes.

Magalong reiterated his earlier warning that an increase in Covid-19 cases would be inevitable with the resumption of face-to-face classes in the city considered as the Educational Center North of Manila.

He stressed, however, that this should not deter the continued conduct of in-person classes to improve the students' productivity and learning processes and avert the effects of virtual learning such as low level of assimilation of students.

“We need to learn to live with the virus. We cannot anymore sacrifice the students' educational needs that they cannot get from the virtual system. Kailangan na talagang pumasok ng mga estudyante,” Magalong said.

Magalong assured that the safety, convenience and welfare of students will remain to be one of the city’s priorities, more so since they have now returned to the face-to-face learning mode.

He said the city will continue to address peace and order and health concerns affecting the students to ensure a continued and smooth in-school learning throughout the school year.

He said all schools that opened had complied with the health and safety seal requirements which include the provision of isolation areas for patients with symptoms or who turned positive.

In case of clustering of cases, Magalong said that the city will not instantly cancel the in-person classes but will assess as to the situation's manageability.

The Department Education Baguio Schools Division headed by City Schools Supt. Federico Martin said more than 85,000 students are enrolled in public and private primary and secondary schools this school year.

Data provided by Curriculum Implementation Division Secretary Bryan Jones Bosaing showed that for public schools, a total of 32,854 pupils were enrolled in the 45 kindergarten and elementary schools, while 28,324 were enrolled in 22 high schools.

For private schools, there were 8,046 in 11 kindergarten and 67 kindergarten and elementary schools and 15,848 students in 54 high schools offering junior and senior curriculum and eight senior high schools.

Martin explained that for schools that have full schedules, school officials decided to adopt the shifting of the schedule of classes to sustain the compliance of the children to the implementation of the minimum public health standards.

Martin appealed to the parents of the learners to understand the restrictions being imposed by the various schools in the city, especially in not allowing them to loiter within the school campus during the classes, because the same is part of the ongoing health and safety protocols that are being imposed to prevent the occurrence of untoward incidents that may cause future surges in Covid-19 cases.