WHILE the incoming 350 Philippine Military Academy (PMA) plebes will be integrated to the Cadet Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP), they will still be segregated from other cadets.
Navy Captain Cheryl Tindog, PMA spokesperson, said upon arrival into the academy, Class 2024 will be segregated from the rest of the CCAFP following a decision from the Department of National Defense.
She said the PMA is set to integrate physical distancing, wearing of masks, strengthening the immune resistance of the cadets, and follow protocols and guidance from the Department of Health to be included in their education and training system.
Tindog added that as part of the new normal, upperclassmen will no longer be allowed to participate during the traditional reception rites and will be closed to the public and for media coverage in observance of the Covid-19 protocols.
"Once they arrive, there is a facility that will be solely for them. We have never experienced this challenge before, we adjusted the traditional ways to adapt in the new normal," Tindog said.
PMA has remained Covid-free since February when it imposed an institution-wide lockdown.
Teachers and instructors inside the Fort Del Pilar were asked to follow guidelines and health protocols, with the PMA saying personnel from the PMA station hospital are in contact with the health department personnel and health institutions to facilitate and implement all guidelines, provision of medicine, and vitamins for the cadets.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, there were at least 10-12 cadets in a class.
Social distancing will also be observed in transporting the incoming cadets.
Before entering the grounds of the PMA, aspirants will first undergo Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing and mandatory quarantine as part of the existing coronavirus disease guidelines.
PMA said it is processing the safe arrival of 350 incoming cadets of Class 2024 in Fort del Pilar, as they were directed to report to the unified command headquarters placed all over the country where they will observe 14 days for quarantine.
The military institution added that incoming cadets who will test negative for the coronavirus will be cleared for travel, while those who will test positive will remain under quarantine and other related protocols inside camps.
Only 350 made it to the PMA out of the 33,000 examinees.