The University of Eastern Philippines will soon start limited face-to-face classes in its College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences programs, including those with laboratory and on-the-job training on the second semester of the present school year, in January 2022.
UEP’s proposal to hold limited face-to-face classes was approved by the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19 (PIATF) in its joint meeting with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) on December 14, 2021 at the UEP Gymnatorium.
UEP President Dr. Cherry Ultra proposed to the PIATF for UEP be allowed to hold limited face-to-face classes in January 2022, blended with modular and online class sessions saying “this is necessary to increase the students’ level of knowledge in their chosen fields of endeavor, and for an unhampered flow of academic learning.” Dr. Ultra made the appeal before PIATF chair Governor Edwin Ongchuan, municipal mayors led by LMP President Mayor Galahad Vicencio, provincial health officials, and other members of the PIATF.
Governor Ongchuan pledged support to the Ligtas Balik Eskwela initiative of UEP, leading others in signing the Pledge of Commitment and Support. Mayors Galahad Vicencio, Don Abalon, Edito Saludaga, Gerardo Miranda and Leo Jarito also gave their support, along with provincial health officer Dr. Ninfa Kam, and DOH provincial officer Rommel Francisco. Other members of the PIATF were also present to give support for the limited face-to-face classes.
Northern Samar has the lowest attack rate of COVID-19 in Region 8, Dr. Rommel Francisco reported during the meeting. At present, more than 54% of the province’s eligible population has been vaccinated, which number is expected to increase in the coming days with the National COVID Vaccination Days Part 2 set on December 20-22, 2021. (PR)
