The University of the Philippines College of Public Health held an online orientation for students and parents on the conduct of limited face-to-face classes on February 21, 2022, via Zoom.

March 31, 2022 — The UP Manila College of Public Health (CPH) has reiterated its commitment to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for its constituents by enforcing the guidelines of the limited face-to-face classes set by the government and the UP System during a zoom orientation held recently for students and their parents.

The CPH, which spent several months in retrofitting their classrooms and laboratory facilities and orienting faculty, research staff, students, and their parents on the guidelines for limited face-to-face classes, received the approval to conduct limited face-to-face classes from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on  July 2021.

Last  November and December 2021, CPH started re-opening its halls to BS Public Health students. This provided an opportunity for them to perform basic laboratory skills that complemented their lessons via remote learning. The Departments of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology conducted limited face-to-face classes on Medical and Public Health Microbiology and Medical Helminthology and Protozoology for 42 third year BS Public Health students. Several fourth year BS PH students also performed experiments with the close guidance of their research advisers as part of their Special Studies course.

Minimum public health standards were strictly observed during the laboratory activities. However, classes were discontinued following the surge of COVID-19 cases last January 2022.

The orientation was attended by UPCPH officials, faculty, staff, and students and their parents.

The online orientation served as an avenue for the CPH administration to communicate with the students and their parents and present the guidelines for the resumption of the conduct of limited face-to-face classes. CPH Dean and SEAMEO TROPMED Regional Centre for Public Health, Hospital Administration, Environmental and Occupational Health Centre Director Vicente Y. Belizario, Jr. opened the program and welcomed the UPCPH faculty, staff, students, and their parents to the orientation.

Assistant to the Dean for Planning and Development and Crisis Management Committee Planning Officer Dr. Fernando B. Garcia, Jr. discussed the face-to-face guidelines. This included a presentation of the conduct of limited face-to-face classes by the Departments of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology during the First Semester. The procedures for the limited face-to-face classes were presented by Dr. Paul Michael R. Hernandez, who serves as the Health Officer of the Crisis Management Committee.

The students and their parents raised questions and concerns during the open forum which was moderated by Dr. John Robert C. Medina, CPH Student Relations Officer. Assistant to the Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Ma. Socorro R. Ignacio closed the program by thanking those who attended the event. CPH College Secretary Dr. Sharon Yvette Angelina M. Villanueva served as the Master of Ceremony.

Dr. Crystal Amiel M. Estrada and Dr. Sharon Yvette Angelina M. Villanueva