By Merlina Hernando-Malipot  The Department of Education (DepEd) has instructed all school officials, teachers, and other personnel in the region and division levels to report the use of any public school facility in their respective areas as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) isolation centers. Education Secretary Leonor Briones
(DepEd / MANILA BULLETIN) Education Secretary Leonor Briones told Manila Bulletin in a phone interview that all public schools were directed to inform the DepEd Central Office if any of the school facilities inside the campus are being used as quarantine sites for suspected cases of COVID-19. “We have told our teachers, school heads to inform us and we will inform the DILG ,” Briones said. She noted that some local governments units (LGUs) have been using classrooms inside several public schools as COVID-19 isolation centers without informing DepEd. “LGUs are regulated by the DILG when schools are used without consultation with DepEd, we call the attention of the Secretary of DILG and he takes over, and deals with the LGU,” Briones said. Briones also cited that the DILG has already issued Memorandum Circular No. 2020-062 dated March 21, 2020, the following provision: “5.1.10. LGUs shall not use DepEd schools as quarantine or isolation areas. As a general rule, LGUs must refrain from using schools as quarantine or isolation areas unless explicitly allowed by the Department of Education and strictly following the guidelines it may set.” In a recent Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) Meeting, Briones noted the Secretary Eduardo Año “reiterated this policy once more.” Briones said that at the end of the day, it is the Department of Health (DOH) which determines “whether a school or any facility will be suitable for all of the requirements that are needed by the local governments.” Briones also assured that DepEd is “cooperating very closely” with the IATF as a member. “When there are issues that need to be settled, we discuss it at the IATF and follow instructions and advice but the most important advice of course comes from the president,” she added. Equip public schools first Meanwhile, a federation of teachers said that using schools as COVID-19 isolation centers should serve “only as a secondary option.” Raymond Basilio, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines secretary general, said that currently, not all schools are suitable for such purpose. “Majority of our schools cannot comply with the requirements of quarantine or isolation as set by DOH,” he said in Filipino. Basilio noted that that there are still many schools that do not have separate comfort rooms and sinks. “The government should address these concerns first to make classrooms ideal as quarantine or isolation centers for suspected cases of COVID-19,” he added. As the number of Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs) and Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) continues to increase, Basilio noted that schools should be ready to accommodate and respond to the needs. “Given this, schools should make the necessary preparations if the need to use their facilities arise,” he said. Public schools, Basilio added, should be equipped so they will be ready to accommodate suspected COVID-19 cases as instructed by the local government. “At this time, they should prepare already so they won’t be overwhelmed and caught off guard,” he said. Until schools are ready and equipped, Basilio said that LGUs may opt to use or tap hotels, lodges, or inns. “They have existing facilities that would respond to the needs of PUIs/PUMs to ensure that their isolation or quarantine will be more effective,” he ended.