Following the announcement of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to allow 100% capacity for Limited Face-to-Face setups in universities under Alert Level 1 cities on Mar. 11, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) clarified that it is only awaiting guidelines from the Commision on Higher Education (CHED) to begin Limited Face-to-Face (LF2F) classes in the coming First Term of A.Y. 2022-2023.

The Benildean reached out to the College’s Vice Chancellor for Academics, Angelo Lacson, for his statement regarding the recent announcement.

In response, he said, “With the declaration from the IATF, we will have to wait for any further guidelines from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). In the meantime, we are pleased to inform the community that we have submitted our documentation for the conduct of Limited Face-to-Face (LF2F) classes for the 3rd Term of AY 21-22 and awaiting a positive response from CHED. We have also secured the Safety Seal Certification from the City of Manila that affirms that the College is compliant with the minimum public health standards.“

Initially, DLS-CSB only required its associates and staff to be fully vaccinated prior to participating in LF2F operations. However, the IATF had mandated that only fully vaccinated individuals can attend in-person classes and that students who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated will remain under flexible learning setups. This is yet to be clarified by the College.

Mr. Lacson did mention the College’s exploration of technologies for hybrid learning as its way of adapting to the new normal or the “new possible,” explaining that,  “With the imminent  return of face-to-face classes, we wish to be able to continue providing the online option for students who prefer it.”

In addition, the IATF has given Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) the liberty to choose which learning modalities they will operate under for as long as the flexible learning setup is maintained. It also mandates HEIs to ensure the registration of its students in PhilHealth or any equivalent medical insurance covering COVID-19 medical expenses in order for them to participate in LF2F classes.

Further details of IATF’s Resolution No. 164 regarding Alert Level 1 operations can be found in the Official Gazette of the Philippines.