It’s been over three months since the President's ultimatum to the telecommunications companies has lapsed in improving their services, yet consumers continue to suffer from unreliable internet connectivity in the country, Senator Win Gatchalian emphasized.

Though the Philippines jumped from number 111 to the 86th spot in Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, Senator Win Gatchalian emphasized the need for sustained efforts to bridge the nationwide digital divide to cover all barangays and reach every learner.

“Kahit tuluyan na nating masugpo ang COVID-19, patuloy pa rin tayo sa pagtugon sa mga pinsalang dinulot ng kawalan ng face-to-face classes. Bukod sa pag-urong ng kaalaman, kabilang din dito ang pag-akyat ng mga kaso ng karahasan, pang-aabuso, at ang pagdami ng mga batang ina,” said Senator Win Gatchalian, who has long been advocating localized limited face-to-face classes to hasten learning recovery.

Senator Win Gatchalian has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to form its panel of experts that will guide the pilot tests of face-to-face classes in low-risk areas.

The Senate will tackle on Wednesday, February 24, the impact of mitigating the pernicious effects of the quality of distance learning, other psycho-social concerns and the implications of postponing the resumption of face-to-face classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Win Gatchalian said.

Emphasizing that displaced teachers and non-teaching staff have waited long enough to receive their aid, Senator Win Gatchalian is calling on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to accelerate the distribution of financial aid allotted for teachers and non-teaching personnel under the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Republic Act 11494) or Bayanihan 2.

Aside from the need to hasten learning recovery following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, learners’ continued access to safety nets adds urgency to the safe reopening of schools, Senator Win Gatchalian said.

Like the study made by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Senator Win Gatchalian also referred to that of Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency (PHA) to reiterate his call to the Philippine government to consider allowing localized and limited face-to-face classes especially in low risk areas. The PHA recently assured that schools are not a major source of COVID-19 transmission.

To help ensure coherence in improving the quality of teacher education and training in the country, Senator Win Gatchalian is seeking the institutionalization of the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), the Department of Education’s (DepEd) professional development arm.