By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday it continues to strictly monitor updates on the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as it disseminates pertinent and verified information from the health authorities to its various regions and divisions.
DepEd said it has formed a task force to address the 2019-nCov respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) outbreak. The task force was created to “cooperate with the DOH (Department of Health) for the implementation of its response to the virus, including decisions for school suspensions, and to promulgate standard protocols in DepEd offices and schools.”
In DepEd Memorandum No. 11 s. 2020, Education Secretary Leonor Briones has directed the creation of a task force for the management of the DepEd response to the 2019-nCoV ARD.
In the said memo, Briones reiterated that the department regards the 2019-nCoV ARD as a “matter of serious and urgent concern.” She also gave the assurance that DepEd “stands ready to contribute to the overall Philippine government efforts for the management of this public health situation.”
Undersecretary and Spokesperson Annalyn Sevilla confirmed to the Manila Bulletin that the department memorandum on the on creation of task force on nCoV has already been drafted. “We are completing the draft of the first advisory of task force, which we hope to be able to issue as soon as possible,” she said.
DepEd officials, Sevilla added, are also meeting with concerned agencies on the matter.
DepEd Task Force nCoV
The creation of the DepEd Task Force nCov, Briones said, will “lead the overall efforts of the Department within the school system in addressing the situation through formulation of policies and development strategies and action plans.”
In particular, the DepEd Task Force nCoV will cooperate with the DOH and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Philippines on the “overall Philippine government efforts on addressing the nCoV ARD.”