Gatchalian: adequate WASH facilities needed before physical classes resume

Though the Department of Education (DepEd) is postponing face-to-face classes until a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the department to fast-track the installation of water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities (WASH) in public elementary and secondary schools where they are not yet available.

According to Gatchalian, adequate WASH facilities are long-term investments that would help schools observe proper hygiene and sanitation. He said that even if COVID-19 is contained and physical classes resume, these facilities are important to keep learners, teachers, and school personnel safe from the threat of other preventable diseases. The lawmaker added that soap, sanitizers, and alcohol should always be available in schools when physical classes resume.

Last year, DepEd reported that only half of 35,005 schools that participated in its 'WASH in Schools' (WinS) program have access to group handwashing facilities with soap and water available. DepEd also revealed that 37.4 percent of schools practice daily supervised handwashing. WinS aims to provide a comprehensive, sustainable, and scalable school-based water, hygiene, sanitation, health education and deworming program to achieve learning and health outcomes.

In 2016, DepEd reported that 3,628 public schools had no regular source of safe and clean water.

"Hindi na kailangan ng pandemya para ipaalala sa mga eskwelahan ang importanteng mga bagay na ito. Pero dahil sa krisis na dulot ng COVID-19, kailangang magdobleng ingat tayo at laging maging handa para mapanatili ang kaligtasan at kalusugan ng mga mag-aaral, guro at kawani ng paaralan," said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

In Senate Bill No. 1565 or the Education in the New Normal Act, which calls for the development of a Safe Schools Reopening Plan, Gatchalian also proposed that local school boards be allowed to utilize the "Special Education Fund" of local government units (LGUs) for the provision of handwashing facilities, soap, alcohol, sanitizers and other public health supplies such as thermometers, face masks, and face shields.

The proposed measure also mandates the implementation of information campaigns in schools to highlight the importance of regular handwashing and sanitizing, as well as other protocols on disease prevention and control.

"Kasama sa pagbangon ng ating sistema ng edukasyon mula sa naging epekto ng COVID-19 ang pagkakaroon ng sapat at malinis na tubig sa bawat paaralan, pati na ng mga pasilidad at programang pang-kalusugan at pang-kalinisan," the senator said.

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Gatchalian hinimok ang sapat na WASH facilities sa 'face-to-face classes'

Habang ipinagpapaliban muna ang face-to-face classes sa darating na pasukan, hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Department of Education o DepEd na pabilisin ang paglalagay at pagpapatayo ng water, sanitation, and hygiene o WASH facilities sa mga paaralang wala pang ganitong uri ng mga pasilidad. Ayon kay Gatchalian, mahalaga ang pangmatagalang pamumuhunan para sa sapat at malinis na tubig sa lahat ng mga paaralan, pati na ng mga pasilidad pang-kalusugan at pang-kalinisan sa kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral.

Binigyang-diin ni Gatchalian na ang sapat at malinis na tubig, pati na ng mga WASH facilities ay hindi lamang mahalaga sa panahon ng kasalukuyang pandemya. Mahalaga din ito sa pagsugpo ng iba pang mga sakit, ayon sa senador. Dapat rin aniyang magkaroon ng sapat na suplay ng sabon, sanitizers, at alcohol.

Noong nakaraang taon, iniulat ng DepEd na kalahati lamang sa tatlumput limang (35,005) libong paaralang bahagi ng programang WASH in Schools (WinS) ang may pasilidad na may sabon at tubig. Wala pang apatnapung (37.4) porsyento sa mga paaralang ito ang nagsasagawa ng arawang pangangasiwa ng paghuhugas ng kamay.

Noong 2016 naman ay iniulat ng DepEd na higit tatlong libong (3,628) pampublikong paaralan ang walang mapagkunan ng ligtas at malinis na tubig.

"Hindi na kailangan ng pandemya para ipaalala sa mga eskwelahan ang importanteng mga bagay na ito. Pero dahil sa krisis na dulot ng COVID-19, kailangang magdobleng ingat tayo at laging maging handa para mapanatili ang kaligtasan at kalusugan ng mga mag-aaral, guro at kawani ng paaralan," ani Gatchalian, Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Sa Senate Bill No. 1565 o ang 'Education in the New Normal Act', iminungkahi ni Gatchalian ang paggamit ng mga local school boards sa "Special Education Fund" ng mga local government units o LGUs para sa pagpapatayo ng mga handwashing facilities, pagbili ng sabon, alcohol, sanitizers, at iba pang public health supplies tulad ng mga thermometer, face masks, at face shields.

Isinusulong din sa naturang panukala ang mga information campaign sa mga paaralan upang mabigyang-diin ang paghugas ng kamay, pag-sanitize, at iba pang hakbang upang mapigilan ang pagkalat ng sakit.

"Kasama sa pagbangon ng ating sistema ng edukasyon mula sa naging epekto ng COVID-19 ang pagkakaroon ng sapat at malinis na tubig sa bawat paaralan, pati na ng mga pasilidad at programang pang-kalusugan at pang-kalinisan," ayon sa senador.

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