Senator Maria Josefa Imelda Marcos welcomed on Tuesday President Duterte's approval of the conduct of face-to-face classes in areas with low COVID-19 risk.

"Maraming maraming salamat kay PRRD sa pagdinig sa panawagan natin sampu ng mga nanay, guro at mismong mag-aaral (Thank you very much to President Duterte for hearing our appeal in behalf of mothers, teachers and students)! Now we look forward not only to a vaccine but the pilot reopening of schools, thank you po!" Marcos said in a text message.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced Monday night that Duterte approved the Department of Education's (DepEd) presentation to hold a dry run of physical classes in select schools in January next year.

The planned face-to-face classes will only be voluntary on the part of parents and learners, and must be conducted within areas with low coronavirus risk.

Marcos appealed to the government to immediately identify the said low-risk locations so that concerned authorities will be able to prepare for the pilot implementation of the face-to-face classes.

"Sana i-identify bago mag pasko na makapaghanda sa lalong madaling panahon, mamili ng (I hope these will be identified before Christmas so that they can choose as soon as possible) well-ventilated venues including larger auditoriums outdoor spaces, makakuha ng (acquire) sanitation equipment for regular cleaning, i-test 'yong teachers na magka-klase (test teachers who will hold classes), identify student drop-off circulation, set schedule pick most important parts of curriculum for face-to-face lessons to remain sa module at remote ," she said.

Earlier, Marcos questioned the continued closure of schools while non-essential activities have already been allowed by the government.

She and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate basic education committee, pushed for localized and limited face-to-face classes as they cited difficulties in delivering quality education through the distance and blended learning currently being implemented by the DepEd.

"It’s very difficult because, still, we have parents who did not graduate elementary or high school, we have parents who are not confident in tutoring their children, and this presents a problem for the child. Because (for children) especially from kindergarten to grade three, this (is the) age level where we need parent intervention but if the parents themselves are not confident to teach their children then this becomes a problem," Gatchalian said in a recent television interview.