Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Sunday that he wants more than 1,000 schools to participate in the pilot face-to-face classes across the country after the program kicked off last week.

Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on basic education, told DZRH in an interview that based on his observation, the reopening of in-person classes in select public schools was organized.

"Maganda at maayos naman ang pagbubukas ng pilot face-to-face sa ibat ibang parte sa ating bansa," he said. "Kahit maliit lang yung kanilang pondo, yung kanilang health protocols mas mahigpit pa kesa sa ibang government offices."

(The opening of the pilot face-to-face in different parts of the country was good and organized. Despite having limited funds, their health protocols were much stricter than other government offices.)

"Sana more than 1,000 yung pilot schools natin dahil may mga eskwelahan talaga maluwag eh," he said. "At patuloy na bumababa po 'yung bilang ng COVID natin, yung ibang lugar na pinuntahan natin, ay zero COVID pa yung kanilang lugar kaya makikita natin na pwede na magbukas ng limited face-to-face sa basic education."

(I wish there were more than 1,000 pilot schools because other schools have fewer restrictions. And COVID cases are going down, and some places that we’ve been to have no COVID cases so we can see it’s possible to open their limited face-to-face in basic education.)

Despite this, Gatchalian still urged caution because COVID-19 still remains despite easing restrictions.

"Paghandaan natin sa pamamagitan ng regular na pag-testing ng mga guro at meron silang suporta na makukuha kung sakaling magkaka-COVID sila."

(Let’s prepare for it by regular testing for teachers and giving support in case they get COVID-19.)

Public schools opened last week as part of the Department of Education’s reopening scheme of face-to-face classes. Select private schools are next to start on Monday.