BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Students in Negros Occidental were reminded to be vigilant, not only of COVID-19, but also of dengue, as they started attending face-to-face classes yesterday.
As he wished them all the best in resumption of face-to-face classes, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said that under the new normal of education, “you are expected to be more responsible than in the past, since we are still in the course of a pandemic.”
I urge all of you to be more mindful not just of COVID, but also dengue. We want you back in school healthy and safe, the governor said.
In Negros Occidental, more than 271,000 students in elementary and secondary levels have returned to school.
Negros Occidental 3rd district Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, in a statement also reminded students not to forget to observe proper health protocols, such as wearing of face masks and observe proper distancing.
The police in Negros Occidental and highly urbanized Bacolod City also reported that the first day of classes was generally peaceful. But heavy traffic was monitored in schools along the highway, especially at the vicinity of Dona Monserrat Lopez Memorial High School in Silay City.
Negros Occidental yesterday logged 21 new cases, with one death, bringing to a total of 219 active cases as of August 22.
Lacson also commended the school administrators, teachers, and the non-teaching staff for going to great lengths of helping the students.
“You were the ones who refused to give up and demonstrated not just consistency of purpose but also creativity and innovation, driven by your passion to make sure that learning persists. You are greatly appreciated,” he said.*
