Face-to-face classes in Metro Manila have been suspended amid a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases as mayors consider more mobility curbs on the unvaccinated.
“Following the meeting between the Department of Education and Metro Manila mayors, face-to-face classes in schools…are suspended starting tomorrow, Jan. 3,” the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said in a statement.
MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said the suspension of face-to-face classes is automatic as Metro Manila goes under stricter Alert Level 3 status starting Monday until Jan. 15 due to increase in COVID-19 cases and recorded cases of the Omicron variant.
Education officials and the mayors appealed to parents to make sure their children stay at home for their safety amid the threat of rising infections.
Abalos said Sunday the Metro Manila mayors will discuss the terms of an “enhanced vaccination mandate” that would give the fully vaccinated more mobility and access privileges.
Abalos told radio dzBB they were collating policies from other countries that could be adopted in the National Capital Region (NCR).
On Wednesday, Abalos said that the Metro Manila Council approved a resolution creating a technical working group that will lead the study of an enhanced vaccination mandate together with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
At the same time, Abalos said the mayors were displeased with quarantine facilities that fail to prevent people from skipping their quarantine.
This was in reaction to revelations that a Makati hotel had allowed a returning overseas Filipino from the United States to skip quarantine and attend a party where many people tested positive for COVID-19.
The Berjaya Makati Hotel, where this traveler was supposed to be quarantined, apologized for the incident, saying it was a “very serious breach” of quarantine protocols.
The mayors will discuss the repercussions of such violations, including the revocation of business permits.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, said it is ready to implement again stricter health protocols against COVID-19 in Metro Manila beginning Monday.
“Our mandate is to make sure that the restrictions are properly implemented. We will closely coordinate with the IATF and the LGUs (local government units) as well,” PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said in a statement Saturday night.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr),on the other hand, has ordered the implementation of strict health protocols in all transport sectors amid the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.
“The safety of commuters is paramount. We must make sure that health protocols are strictly implemented in all public transport vehicles and in all transport facilities,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
“I am ordering all transport sectors to strictly enforce the health and safety protocols in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19,” he added.
Tugade made the call as the status in Metro Manila was raised anew to Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 to 15, as the country recorded a continued rise in COVID-19 infections.
Under Alert Level 3, intrazonal and interzonal movement are still allowed, however, restrictions may be imposed by local government units.
As part of the implementation of health protocols, Tugade has ordered enforcers from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and train marshals of all railway lines to make sure that proper physical distancing is being observed inside public transport vehicles and inside transport terminals.
Enforcers and marshals have also been ordered to make sure that commuters entering terminals and boarding public transport are using face masks. Transport marshals have also been ordered to remind commuters not to talk or eat while inside the trains.