The Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF) conducted an ocular inspection of the venue for the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), Friday, Sept. 24. The EOC-TF wanted to assess if minimum health protocols like social distancing, and proper wearing of face masks and face shields, can be implemented and observed during the teacher’s board exams on Sunday, Sept. 26. “We are committed to extending our support to all stakeholders – from the organizers, the proctors, down to the examinees – to make sure that the board exam for our future professional teachers will push through with COVID-19 minimum health protocols strictly observed,” the EOC-TF said. EOC officials and medical deputies oriented all stakeholders on strategies to be taken during the teacher’s board exams. EOC Executive Director and City administrator Em Ang, Deputies for Medical Dr. Chris Sorongon, and Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan conducted the briefing and led the ocular inspection of 99 examination rooms. A total of 816 examinees are expected to take the exams. Only 8 or 9 examinees are allowed in each room. Joining the ocular inspection were Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) Supervising Officer Mary Ann Delaga, UNO-R Nurse Winnie Sumbillo, Safety & Security Supervisor Mars Olea; Registrar Lino Sumbillo Jr.; Dr. Nena Samillano, STEP Office Director; UNO-R Faculty member Mr. Remus Magbanua, Police Lieutenant Gary Buaron of the Bacolod City Police Office, EOC Secretariat head Teresa Manalili, and members of Barangay 40 Task Force Disiplina. Before taking the LEPT, examinees are required to either observe 14-day isolation or test negative for COVID-19 in the RT-PCR. On examination day, they will be required to submit either a Certificate of Quarantine as proof of 14-day isolation or a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result from any accredited molecular laboratory. “Our future teachers have even greater significance in light of the challenges that learners face during the COVID-19 crisis. As the pandemic has shown, teachers make a crucial contribution to ensuring continuity of learning and supporting the mental health and well-being of the learners,” the EOC-TF further said in a statement.*/Bacolod City PIO (news and photos)
