WITH the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Mankayan, Benguet, alternative work arrangements have been made for teachers and students onsite.
Mayor Frenzel Ayong said delivery of learning modules for students inside Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation (LCMC) is suspended after the meeting of the local government unit and the school board on December 4.
On Monday, December 7, the mayor said the lockdown of the Barangays Paco, Marivi and Sapid, all, within the LCMC, is also extended until midnight of December 20 and may be shortened or extended as the situation require.
As of December 7, schools have been utilized to isolate Covid-19 patients.
Data from the Mankayan Rural Health Unit showed there are 122 patients isolated at the Lepanto National High School, 37 patients admitted in Lepanto Elementary School, 44 patients in Marivic Elementary School, 43 admitted at the Mankayan Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility, 10 in LCMC hospital, four in Carantes Isolation Facility, six in home isolation, one each in PNP and Government Employee Isolation Facility, while 27 individuals remain for verification.
Benilda Daytaca, Department of Education (DepEd) Benguet Schools Division superintendent, said the education department allowed the use of the schools after a certification was issued from the municipal health office stating the school was assessed including that of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Because of the increase in the number of cases and the lack of isolation facilities to house the positive cases, a request was made to the education department to utilize the schools until such time the cases decrease.
A consent and approval of DepEd-Cordillera Administrative Region was obtained by the local government unit for the use of schools as the isolation of facilities.
"The Mankayan Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility located at Casubigan, in Barangay Sapid is now full that is why we now utilize the Lepanto National Elementary School, Lepanto High School (Barangay Paco) and then we have the Marivic School (in Barangay Sapid). We are preparing the also the Elementary school at Proper Paco," Ayong added.
Daytaca said that for the alternative work arrangement, most teachers are working at home and with the help of barangay, they were able to identify churches to serve as teacher's workspace.
In the mine camp, blended learning of printed modules with video or TV supplement are being implemented.
For elementary students, Daytaca said modules for one week were not distributed to affected schools but books were distributed before, citing the learners can use the books and other reading materials instead of modules for the meantime.
Instructions were also given through text or messengers and the partner cable television will air the videos for the week.
In a bid to protect students from the virus, the government shifted to blended learning this school year, an approach that involves distance learning -- modular printed materials brought to the learners, and or interaction online, TV, and radio-based instruction.
The school year 2020-2021 started on October 5.