TACLOBAN CITY- While the border lockdown imposed in Borongan City ended on Monday, officials of the city issued an appeal for the residents to still strictly follow all the health protocols.
Borongan Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda earlier imposed a 48-hour hard border lockdown after a man confirmed to have been infected of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) from Llorente town was admitted to the Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital, based in the city.
Agda said that about 10 health workers from the said provincial hospital has been ‘exposed’ to the man.
The border lockdown prohibited residents of the city to venture out of Borongan.
The lockdown ended on Monday.
But still, Mayor Agda appealed to the people of the city not to be complacent as they should instead follow all the health protocols.
This include the wearing of face mask and face shield, maintain social distancing of at least two meters, and frequent hand washing.
The residents are also requested to stay at home unless there is an urgent need to go out.
Borongan remains to be COVID-19 as Eastern Samar has now 10 cases of the dreaded virus.
(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)

By: MARK ANTHONY U. CAÑETE

Of all the alternative learning modalities offered by the Department of Education for S.Y. 2020-2021, most learners prefer to use “modular distance learning modality.”
Since face-to-face classes are not yet allowed, Plaridel Elementary School adopts the Modular Distance Learning Delivery Modality. This is based on the results of the Learner Enrollment and Survey Forms (LESFs) distributed during the enrollment period. It showed that most learners prefer to use modular distance learning for school year 2020-2021.
Modular Distance Learning involves individualized instruction that allows learners to use self-learning modules (SLMs) in print or digital format whichever is applicable in the context of the learner. The teacher takes the responsibility of monitoring the progress of the learners. The learners may ask assistance from the teacher via e-mail, telephone, text message/instant messaging, etc. Where possible, the teacher shall do home visits to learners needing remediation or assistance. Any member of the family or other stakeholder in the community needs to serve as para-teachers.
In preparation for the opening of classes on August 24, DepEd Secretary Briones ensures that modules are already available before the start of classes since the preparations for SLMs started in May.
If ever there is a delay in the distribution of SLMs the teachers in our district will use the Activity Sheets and Worksheets that they have made for the first two weeks of classes.
(Note: the author is a teacher-in-charge of Plaridel ES-Dagami North District)

The Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office is set to implement two farm-to-market road(FMR) projects for the year 2020; 600 meters two-lane road in Barangay Polangi to Brgy. Gayam, Taft and 830 meters two-lane road in Brgy. Bonghon to Brgy. Sto Nino, Dolores.
The FMR projects are funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) with a total fund allocation of Php 24.5M.
District Engineer Manolo A. Rojas said that the project is expected to be implemented this August 20, 2020. He also directed project engineers and contractors to implement the project in accordance with DPWH standard and specification and to follow COVID-19 protocols during construction.
“These projects will be a big help to our farmers especially on the transportation of farm products to the market which will be a lot easier once the road is completed,” DE Rojas added.
He also disclosed that the road will be a big help to carry out government services to the inner localities and the road will provide safe and convenient transport from the interior barangay to the town proper especially during emergencies.
District Engineer Manolo A. Rojas also directed that all 2020 and prior year projects should be completed before the year ends including the construction of these two FMR projects.
(JAYSON ESPEJO/PR)

TACLOBAN CITY –Some schools here in the city will be doing a dry run on mode of learning that will be implemented for this school year which is to start on August 24.
Students here in the city will be using the modular method of learning though online classes will also be conducted.
“On August 24, diretso implementation kaagad pero there are schools that are doing their dry run para makita nila kun epektibo or ano pa ang dapat nating i-change or i-improve,” Mariza Magan, city schools superintendent, said.
The blended mode of teaching is being introduced by the Department of Education (DepEd) during this school year amid the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic and ensure the safety not only of the students but the teachers as well.
Magan added that they partnered with the local government unit and barangay officials in the retrieval of modules from students in their respective village.
At present, there are 61,157 students who enrolled in the different schools in the city, a drop compared to last school year’s enrollment of 72,293 students.
The fear of being infected with COVID-19 is the main reason why some parents did not enroll their children this school year.
“We don’t want this kind of situation, this is new to us. What we need to do is to respond kung ano yung pwede nating maibigay para maipagpatuloy yung learning ability ng ating mga learners, ginagawa yun ng DepEd,” Magan said.
“Hopefully, kahit ganitong pamamaraan ang ginagamit natin ay magiging successful pa rin kaya kailangan natin ng tulong ng parents. Hindi naman siguro natin kailangan na mapabayaan ang education ng ating mga kabataan. This is the good for everyone. We always need to think positively,” she added.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)