GENERAL PROTOCOL

ON SAFE RETURN TO
SCHOOLS
Learning Continuity Plan (LCP).
• It is a plan that ensures the continuous delivery of
instructions and addresses the challenges posing
threat to the undisturbed learning opportunities and
continuity of education of individual learner, group
and school as a whole.
School Safety and Security
• A safe and secure environment is a prerequisite for effective
teaching and learning.
• Threats to the safety and security of people and property can
arise from natural hazards and or human-induced actions.
Prior to SY 2021-2022
HERD IMMUNITY
• This office encourages everyone to get a Covid-19 vaccine
shot to help the nation in achieving herd immunity.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Online health declaration of personnel and visitors the day prior to physical
reporting and/or visit in all offices and schools for timely assessment and
screening of those personnel or visitors exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19
or has been tested by COVID-19 and is awaiting result in order to hamper
the spread of COVID-19 disease in the workplace and schools.

• Provision of Telehealth (Telemedicine and Teledentistry) to clients in need

of health care but is not able to physically consult.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Provide face to face APE to fully vaccinated TP and NTP, and
Online Health Screening (OHS) to partially vaccinated and
unvaccinated TP and NTP to identify those who are physically
fit to work from those who are not, and give them proper
advise or referral to health institutions or medical specialists
for further evaluation and management.

• Mandate all TP and NTP to complete diagnostic laboratory

examinations prior to APE and OHS for complete assessment.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Implement physical distancing at all times, especially in common use
areas, workstations, eating areas, queues, and classrooms by
providing marks on floors, walls or seats.

• Inspection of the schools' WASH facilities and reiteration on the

guidelines of DO 10, S. 2016 or the " Policy and Guidelines for the
Comprehensive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools (WinS)
Program"; validation of the schools' self-assessment TSA and
uploading to the OMS.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Reiteration on routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched
and shared surfaces and objects at least 2x a day, and more
intensive cleaning and disinfection on weekends thru online
orientation and one on one TA during monitoring of the WASH in
Schools Program.

• Registration and Simulation of RADAR Application for Natural Hazard

• Conduct of Quarterly Simultaneous Earthquake Drill at home and in

school.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Prepare a tool for Consolidation of National Simultaneous
Earthquake Drill and Schools that serves as an
Evacuation Centers during typhoons and other hazards.
• Teacher residence mapping to obtain the list of teachers
who live within 5 kms radius
• Develop Incident Report and Monitoring System thru E-
cares
• Produce preparedness measures video materials (Go
Bag, First Aid)
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• (PF) Ensure the strict implementation of DepED Order No.9, s. 2020
(Construction Safety Guidelines for the Implementation of DepED
Infrastructure Projects during the COVID -19 Public Health Crisis) to all
infrastructure projects in the division.
When SY 2021-2022 opened
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Continue requiring online health declaration of personnel and clients
physically reporting or visiting the offices and schools the day prior to their
visit for timely assessment and screening of personnel and visitors
exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or has been tested by COVID-19 and is
awaiting result in order to hamper the spread of COVID-19 disease in the
workplace and schools.

• Continuous provision of telehealth to clients in need.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Continue provision of APE and OHS to TP and NTP.

• Review of diagnostic laboratory results and offer consultation as needed to TP

and NTP.

• Monitor the adherence of schools and offices to the protocols to ensure safety
and security of school personnel reporting to office. Provide TA, when necessary

• Continue the strict implementation of physical distancing at all times, and ensure
unidirectional flow of learners and teachers inside the school by providing
different doors for entrance and exit and placing marks or guides to show one-
way route inside the classrooms and in corridors.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• (HNU and DRRM) Regular monitoring of schools on the routine cleaning
and disinfection of frequently touched and shared surfaces and objects at
least 2x a day, and more intesive cleaning and disinfection on weekends.

• (DRRM) Utilization of RADAR Application for Natural Hazard

• (DRRM) Quarterly Simultaneous Earthquake Drill

HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Monitor the conduct of earthquake drills in schools/ at home.

• Distribute the First Aid and Go Bag IEC Video Materials to schools

• Ensure all construction personnel have undergone COVID -19 test and
with negative result, and monitor work activities compliant to safety
standards and quarantine protocols.

• Continue to promote the climate change adaptation and mitigation to

learners, teachers and stakeholders
When limited in-person classes are allowed
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Continue requiring online health declaration of personnel and clients
physically reporting or visiting the offices and schools the day prior to their
visit for timely assessment and screening of personnel and visitors
exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or has been tested by COVID-19 and is
awaiting result in order to hamper the spread of COVID-19 disease in the
workplace and schools.

• Provide medical consultation and assistance to learners manifesting

symptoms of COVID-19 and other illness
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Continuous provision of telehealth to clients in need.

• Continue provision of APE and OHS to TP and NTP.

Provide Health Check and medical consultation among learners

• Continue review of diagnostic laboratory results and offer

consultation as needed.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Continue the implementation of physical distancing at all times, and ensure
unidirectional flow of learners and teachers inside the school by providing
different doors for entrance and exit and placing marks or guides to show
one-way route inside the classrooms and in corridors.

• Provision of TA to schools as regards to DO 10, S. 2016 POLICY AND

GUIDELINES FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE WATER, SANITATION AND
HYGIENE IN SCHOOLS (WINS) PROGRAM.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Regular monitoring of schools on the routine cleaning and disinfection of
frequently touched and shared surfaces and objects at least 2x a day, and
more intensive cleaning and disinfection on weekends.

• Utilization of RADAR Application for Natural Hazard

• (DRRM) Quarterly Simultaneous Earthquake Drill

HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Division and School DRRM, SHs)- Monitor the conduct of earthquake drills in schools,
and provide TA when necessary (Division DRRM)

• Secure commitment of the LGU, parents or guardians, and transportation providers. To

sign MOA between the school and stakeholders.

Roles and responsibilities of Barangay in the MOA are as follows:

• Station personnel at the school gate to monitor and guide students to strictly
follow social distancing and wearing of mask and face shield.
• Station personnel every 1km (if possible), to check and monitor the
compliance of students and stakeholders to minimum health standards.
• No street food vendors are allowed within 1km radius.
• Barangay ordinance to limit the capacity of tricycle and other forms of
services in schools.
Roles and responsibilities of Barangay in the MOA…

• Forge partnership with transportation group (TODA, JODA, etc.) to

accommodate transportation services back and forth home and school.
Organize only one child per seat and ensure physical distancing of at least
1 meter between passengers in tricycle, jeepneys, and school buses (if
possible.)

• Protocols on strict health and safety must be followed at home, school and
during travel to and from the schools.

• Regular coordination with LGUs, health experts, parents, teachers and

service providers.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Teachers living on locations outside 5km radius of school
vicinity are recommended to handle distance learning sessions.

• Teachers living within 5km radius of school vicinity are

recommended to handle face-to-face classes.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Ensure all construction personnel have undergone COVID -19 test and
with negative result, and monitor work activities compliant to safety
standards and quarantine protocols.

• Encourage parents and stakeholders to get a Covid-19 vaccination to

achieve herd immunity.
 USED OF DEPED SCHOOLS AS
ISOLATION AREAS/FACILITIES DUE TO
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Aligned with RA 10821 or the Children’s Emergency Relief and
Protection Act, the Department recognizes that school facilities may
be used for other purposes such as an evacuation center only when
there is no other available place or structure which can be used.
However, please note that the implementation of CY2020 and
CY2021 Infrastructure Projects is expected to start on the third
quarter of 2021, and this will require the use of the school premises
for the construction/repair of school buildings. Moreover, with cash-
based budgeting in place, these projects need to be completed by
end of 2021 to avoid the lapsing of funds.
 Recipient schools of CY2020 and CY2021 Infrastructure Projects are directed to
respectfully decline requests for their schools to be used as isolation facilities citing
the reasons above. Coversely, if the recipient school is currently being used as an
isolation area, two possible courses of action may be taken:
a) If the Division Engineer determines that the school is large enough to
segregate the isolation area and the construction site, the school can still house the
isolation facility provided that barriers will be erected.
b) If the Division Engineer determines that the school is not large enough to
cater to both the isolation facility and the construction of school buildings, it is
imperative to coordinate with the corresponding Local Government Unit (LGU) and
request the immediate transfer of the isolation facility to a nearby school which is
not a recipient of CY2020 or CY2021 Infrastructure Projects.