By Glazyl Masculino
BACOLOD CITY - Governor Eugenio Lacson ordered the suspension of graduation rites and moving-up ceremonies for all levels in private and public schools in the municipalities and component cities in Negros Occidental until further notice, following the threat posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019).
This was stated in Executive Order No. 20 - 14 which the governor issued on March 13, after his Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (EREID) meeting with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall here.
Lacson said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has issued Resolution No. 0227, urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to end the 2019-2020 School Year earlier than April 3 in all level,s as well as suspend classes in Day Care Centers in the province pursuant to Proclamation No. 922 placing the country under a State of Public Health Emergency to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Lacson said that several local government units (LGUs) have already suspended classes, as well as the holding of graduation rites to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“We know that this is a very sentimental event. We don’t want to deprive them (students) of that,” he said, adding that their action taken is intended to protect the people from the possible spread of the viral disease.
Lacson also cited in the order the directive of DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones for all DepEd schools on the adoption of social distancing measures.