President Rodrigo Duterte called on other regions not to be dismayed if their areas are not included to participate in face to face classes as its implementation in some schools in NCR started on Monday.

“We will allow face-to-face classes in NCR. Now, do not be dismayed if you are not yet included because these are all experimental and pilot projects. We will see first because all of the resources of the government and the officials are there. They can immediately keep posted on what is happening,” Duterte said during the Talk to The People on Monday night.

“Today, December, a total of 28 schools in Metro Manila have started to conduct limited face-to-face classes but under strict health and safety protocols. These include two schools each of the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig, Valenzuela; and one school each for the cities of Makati, Malabon, Pasay, and San Juan,” he said.

“I’m glad that they have thought of this. Just keep it slow, do not speed up too much… just the better part of prudence,” he added.

In an earlier interview during the Laging Handa public briefing, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said nearly 300 private and public schools are presently conducting limited face to face classes in the different parts of the country.

“For our first batch we have 118 schools, of which 100 are public and 18 are private schools, and today there are an additional 174 schools. So, that is I believe nearly 300 schools nationwide are conducting,” he said.Robina Asido/DMS