The Joint Task Force Covid Shield on Tuesday urged the public to report to local officials those who create unnecessary noise that disrupt online classes and modular learning of students in their homes.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, task force commander, said Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Camilo Cascolan, has ordered the establishment of barangay assistance centers that would be manned by at least two police officers.
Eleazar, also PNP deputy chief for administration, said blended learning methods implemented by the Department of Education amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) threat has practically turned every community into a learning space.
The setting up of assistance desks strengthens the existing policy where a police officer is assigned to act as a quarantine rules supervisor who leads village watchmen in enforcing quarantine protocols, he added.
Meanwhile, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Gregorio Honasan admitted that the country's internet connection was "not yet that good," making a turnaround from his earlier statement that drew public backlash.
The DICT chief, however, said they were trying to improve the internet speed as the country's trails behind those of its neighbors in Asia.
Also, Senator Panfilo Lacson threw his full support behind the government's plan to provide free Wi-Fi especially in far-flung areas, and to set up a national broadband program.
Lacson said he will push for a bigger budget for the two programs, as he noted these will serve as the backbone of the country's economy.
"This is the backbone of our economy. In this day and age of modern information technology, we have no reason not to catch up or to be at par with neighboring countries, considering that potential investors' first concern would be internet speed," Lacson said at the budget hearing for the DICT.
“I am a believer in ICT because there is so much we can do if our ICT is efficient," he added.
“We also encourage the parents and even the students themselves to let us know the noisy activities of their neighbors during their study time. We have hotlines and even a Facebook account to receive your complaints and we assure you of immediate action,” said Eleazar.
If possible, Eleazar said the complainant could shoot photos or take videos of drinking session and use of videoke that could be used against the violators.
He said the police force has also intensified its enforcement of local ordinances aimed at ensuring that learners would not be disrupted during online classes.
Among these are ordinances against drinking in public and ordinances regulating the use of videoke.
"I apologize to the Chair and to the Senate President. I should have really said, para medyo may positive note naman (to partly convey a positive note), na it’s not yet that good but we are trying to improve it,” Honasan said when asked by Sen. Imee Marcos to clarify his comment on the status of the country's internet connectivity.
"Having said that, global surveys indicate that we are not doing that good yet, but we are not doing that bad. Nasa pagitna-gitna po tayo (We're in the middle)," he added.
Last Sept. 15, Honasan claimed the country's internet connection was "not that bad," saying the country has an average of 3 to 7 Mbps connection.
Sen. Imee Marcos, emphasizing the crucial role of information and communications technology in the country’s current situation, for her part, aired her support for DICT's request to increase its P8.1 billion proposed 2021 budget.
“I would like to support some augmentation for our DICT given that the only jobs available are online. Our entire educational system is reliant on the online capacities and even the Senate is depending only upon our internet,” Marcos said.
"Our students experience difficulty in adjusting because we are doing this for the first time. Let us not add to their burden. Remember, your right to engage in noisy talks in your neighborhood ends when the right of the students to study in peace and in silence begins. Your right to sing using your videoke also ends when the right of the students not to be distracted to focus on their learning modules begins. We will make sure to go after you,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar said that since some of the LGUs already have ordinances regulating the use of videoke for instance, some of the provisions could be amended to include prohibition in the use of the videoke machine during the time that students are attending online classes or answering modules.
Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas ordered the five police districts in Metro Manila to coordinate with local officials of barangays to address the maintaining order in communities amid the blended learning system being observed.
The five police districts under NCRPO are the Manila Police District, Quezon City Police District, Northern Police District, Southern Police District, and Eastern Police District.
"For now, we have already issued a directive to our police officers to coordinate with the barangays. The directive from Camp Crame is close coordination with the barangay to check na dapat hindi maingay (that there must be no unnecessary noise)," Sinas told reporters in a press conference at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Sinas said there is no report yet on arrests made against violators of protocols or those who have been disturbing online learners by making noise in communities, including videoke sessions.
Despite the opening of blended classes in public schools, Defense Secretary and National Task Force on Covid-19 chairperson Delfin Lorenzana said internet shops are still not allowed to cater to students and minors.
"These are enclosed spaces. We are aware that there is a high chance of transmission in enclosed and air-conditioned places. Therefore, it is not allowed," he said when asked if it is feasible to let internet shops cater to students attending online classes.
Earlier, the Joint Task Force Covid Shield ordered police officers to coordinate with local officials in reminding computer shop owners to comply with quarantine protocols in resuming operations amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.
Internet shops were among the business establishments which were allowed to operate in September as the government started to ease quarantine restrictions to allow the gradual resumption of business operations and revive the economy amid the pandemic.
Information Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Caintic had said the country's internet connection could reach up to 25.07 Mbps, compared to 2016's maximum of 7.91 Mbps. Mobile internet speed could also reach up to 6.95 Mbps, he added.
Caintic, however, admitted that the Philippines' neighboring countries have 213.18 Mbps fixed broadband speed, with 56.43 Mbps mobile internet speed.
According to data shared by Speedtest by Ookla as of August 2020, Singapore ranked first in fixed broadband speed of 218.07 Mbps, while the Philippines placed 106th with 25.34 Mbps.