It’s been over three months since the President's ultimatum to the telecommunications companies has lapsed in improving their services, yet consumers continue to suffer from unreliable internet connectivity in the country, Senator Win Gatchalian emphasized.
Though the Philippines jumped from number 111 to the 86th spot in Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, Senator Win Gatchalian emphasized the need for sustained efforts to bridge the nationwide digital divide to cover all barangays and reach every learner.
“Kahit tuluyan na nating masugpo ang COVID-19, patuloy pa rin tayo sa pagtugon sa mga pinsalang dinulot ng kawalan ng face-to-face classes. Bukod sa pag-urong ng kaalaman, kabilang din dito ang pag-akyat ng mga kaso ng karahasan, pang-aabuso, at ang pagdami ng mga batang ina,” said Senator Win Gatchalian, who has long been advocating localized limited face-to-face classes to hasten learning recovery.
Senator Win Gatchalian has volunteered to be vaccinated with jabs of CoronaVac, manufactured by Beijing-based biopharmaceutical company Sinovac, if allowed under the government’s prioritization framework for the nationwide immunization campaign to combat the coronavirus.
As cases of teenage pregnancy in the Philippines continued to surge in 2019, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) pointed out that some teenagers are victims of child abuse or rape. At the kick-off of National Women’s Month, Senator Win Gatchalian emphasized that this adds urgency to raising the age of sexual consent in the country.
Senator Win Gatchalian has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to form its panel of experts that will guide the pilot tests of face-to-face classes in low-risk areas.
The Senate will tackle on Wednesday, February 24, the impact of mitigating the pernicious effects of the quality of distance learning, other psycho-social concerns and the implications of postponing the resumption of face-to-face classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Win Gatchalian said.
Emphasizing that displaced teachers and non-teaching staff have waited long enough to receive their aid, Senator Win Gatchalian is calling on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to accelerate the distribution of financial aid allotted for teachers and non-teaching personnel under the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Republic Act 11494) or Bayanihan 2.
Strict implementation of the minimum health protocols should remain in Metro Manila and in all areas placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) should there be a shift to less stringent modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) by March, Senator Win Gatchalian said.
