18 2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines Department of Health (DOH), the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), or the President lift or relax the prohibition on face-to-face learning. 33 To adhere with the guidelines set by the IATF-EID, DepEd also issued Department Order No. 00868 Series of 2020 to provide schools and community learning centers (CLCs) various options for implementing a modified enrollment process amidst the COVID Pandemic. 34 In a survey organized by DepEd, 87 percent of teachers who answered have laptops or computers at home and 13 percent have none.69 Among those who have gadgets, only 41 percent have a stable internet connection.70 Some teachers have also voiced out their concerns over the seemingly unpreparedness of schools, teachers, parents and learners for online learning. They pointed out that the Philippines’ educational system is still struggling to adjust to the change brought about by the K-12 program, and to bring up online classes will cause another major change in the educational system. 71 35 Even parents are apprehensive about enrolling their children this coming school year. In a distance learning approach, parents will have to play an active role in the learning process as they will have to facilitate and guide their children through modular lessons sent by the school. Some parents feel that they are not capable of guiding their children in the learning process at home. There are also doubts as to whether the children could learn their lessons effectively through the proposed alternative modes.72 36 In response, DepEd will be purchasing laptops, televisions, lapel microphones and speakers for public school teachers. DepEd also assured parents that there is no need to buy new gadgets or devices as printed modules or learning materials will be provided to learners who have limited or no access to the internet and digital devices. DepEd is seeking the help of local government units (LGUs) in distributing learning modules for students.73 37 The government will also use television and radio stations to broadcast educational programs at specific times to ensure that students from far-flung barrios can still learn during the time of Pandemic. Right to Social Security During the COVID-19 Pandemic 38 In the Northern Mindanao Region, the initial estimates of the National Economic and Development Authority-X (NEDA-X) of COVID-19’s direct impact to the gross regional domestic product (GRDP) at current prices, the potential output of the region may decrease by almost 5 percent, from the expected output of PHP839.7 billion at current 68 Department of Education, Department Order No. 008, s. 2020, Guidelines on Enrollment for School Year 2020-2021 in the Context of the Public Health Emergency due to COVID, May 28, 2020, may be accessed at https://www.deped. gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/DO_s2020_008-Guidelines-on-Enrollment-for-SY-2020-2021.pdf 69 Thousands of teachers lack gadgets, internet to cope with pandemic: DepEd, ABS-CBN News, June 26, 2020, available at https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/16/20/thousands-of-teachers-lack-gadgets-internet-to-cope-with-pandemicdeped (last accessed June 28, 2020) 70 Id 71 Maan D’Asis Pamaran, Education post COVID-19 will be largely virtual, but is the Philippines ready?, ANC, available at https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/04/23/20/education-post-covid-19-will-be-largely-virtualbut-isthe-philippines-ready (last accessed May 9,2020). 72 Bonz Magsambol, Decline in enrollees: Parents cite finances, doubts about distance learning, Rappler, May 29, 2020, available at https://www.rappler.com/nation/262270-decline-enrollees-students-not-attending-school-coronavirus-pandemic (last accessed June 28, 2020) 73 Jeffrey Damicog, DepEd to seek help from LGU in distributing learning materials to students, Manila Bulletin, May 12, 2020, available at https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/12/deped-to-seek-help-from-lgu-in-distributing-learning-materials-to-students/ (last accessed July 3, 2020)