By Quian Vencel Galut

PHOTO: ABS-CBN News

Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Gerona Robredo distinguished the Philippines’ COVID-19 response before the Delta variant was detected as a “missed opportunity” for having an education.

“‘Yung nakalipas na isa’t kalahating taon, missed opportunity ‘yun. ‘Yung wala pa ‘yung Delta variant, sobrang daming LGU all over the Philippines ‘yung wala namang cases,” Robredo said during the BISErbisyong Leni program on Sunday, August 29.

Robredo also pointed out that the current situation will affect the generation’s future due to a lack of education especially for those who are in vulnerable sectors.

“‘Pag hindi ma-educate lalo na ‘yung mga mahihirap, wala masyadong access, malalayo, intergenerational ito. ‘Pag hindi sila nakaaral pati ‘ang magiging anak nila damay,” Robredo stressed.

Robredo also expressed frustration with the education system failures in either modular or online classes which are said to be the new normal way of attending classes, prompting her office to set up community learning hubs in 58 areas which benefited around 4,000 children.



“Ngayon, bumabalik na sa amin ‘ang results ng community learning hubs namin na ganitong number ng mga bata ang natuto na magbasa dahil sa community learning hubs,” she said.

“Naalala ko nung meron na sana kaming nakakasa na several dito sa Metro Manila, nung nagsalita si Presidente [Rodrigo Duterte], mayroong isang LGU na umayaw, three to four community learning hubs sana ‘yung ilalagay namin dun,” she added.

The Vice President also agreed not to implement face-to-face learning amid the Delta variant situation which is more dangerous.

Based on the report of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday, the Philippines is among the only five countries worldwide which have yet to conduct in-person classes amidst the pandemic.