By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to create a task force on the novel coronavirus (nCoV) threat to address concerns and challenges in schools following the first confirmed case of the virus in the country.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones
(DepEd / MANILA BULLETIN) Undersecretary and DepEd Spokesman lawyear Nepomuceno Malaluan confirmed that the members of the agency’s Executive Committee (ExeCom) met after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that the country has a first reported case of the 2019-nCoV. During the meeting on Friday morning, Malaluna said the members of the ExeCom “agreed to recommend” to Education Secretary Leonor Briones the creation of a Task Force on nCoV. The DepEd Chief was reportedly in Baguio for a school visit to the Baguio National High School, one of the top performing schools in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Malaluan said the new task force on nCoV “will have a policy component” chaired by Briones, with the Undersecretaries for for Field Operations, Administration, and Legal as members. “There will also be an operational component led by the School Health Division under the Bureau of Learner Support Services, working in partnership with DRRMS and the Public Affairs Service,” Malaluan said. “The Task Force shall coordinate closely with DOH.” Malaluan noted that the first assignment of the Task Force is the “preparation of an expanded advisory to all DepEd units.” He added that this “will standardize guidelines and protocols on prevention, monitoring and response.” DepEd, Malaluan said, will “use only official sources” - primarily from DOH and World Health Organization (WHO). “Once prepared, we will submit this to DOH for their concurrence, before issuance,” he added. Malaluan gave the assurance that DepEd will “continue to look to DOH for guidance, even as we take proactive measures.” He added that the agency is “exercising due care in our public pronouncements, to avoid contributing to confusion, panic, or false information.”
Education Secretary Leonor Briones(DepEd / MANILA BULLETIN) Undersecretary and DepEd Spokesman lawyear Nepomuceno Malaluan confirmed that the members of the agency’s Executive Committee (ExeCom) met after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that the country has a first reported case of the 2019-nCoV. During the meeting on Friday morning, Malaluna said the members of the ExeCom “agreed to recommend” to Education Secretary Leonor Briones the creation of a Task Force on nCoV. The DepEd Chief was reportedly in Baguio for a school visit to the Baguio National High School, one of the top performing schools in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Malaluan said the new task force on nCoV “will have a policy component” chaired by Briones, with the Undersecretaries for for Field Operations, Administration, and Legal as members. “There will also be an operational component led by the School Health Division under the Bureau of Learner Support Services, working in partnership with DRRMS and the Public Affairs Service,” Malaluan said. “The Task Force shall coordinate closely with DOH.” Malaluan noted that the first assignment of the Task Force is the “preparation of an expanded advisory to all DepEd units.” He added that this “will standardize guidelines and protocols on prevention, monitoring and response.” DepEd, Malaluan said, will “use only official sources” - primarily from DOH and World Health Organization (WHO). “Once prepared, we will submit this to DOH for their concurrence, before issuance,” he added. Malaluan gave the assurance that DepEd will “continue to look to DOH for guidance, even as we take proactive measures.” He added that the agency is “exercising due care in our public pronouncements, to avoid contributing to confusion, panic, or false information.”