2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines 15 psychological first aid. The UP Diliman Psychosocial Services (UPD PsychServ) also provides free counseling via telephone for frontliners.47 Right to Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic 20 On 12 March 2020, classes were suspended in Metro Manila until 12 April 2020 when the government raised the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in the whole Philippines to “Code Red Sub-Level 2” as part of a partial lockdown measure in Metro Manila. The class suspensions were later extended up to 14 April 2020 through a memorandum circular released by Malacañang on 14 March 2020. After a few months, DepEd has continued the blended learning approach to continue the school year.48 Class suspension was also mentioned in Community Quarantine Over the Entire Luzon and Further Guidelines for the Management of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation.49 21 As of 1 September 2020, DepEd reported the total number of enrollees for school year 2020-2021 has reached 23,987,944 nationwide, in both public and private schools. Of this number, 22,019,105 students are enrolled in public schools and 1,923,179 students in private schools. DepEd said that the current enrollment rate is 86.31% of the total enrollment in SY 2019-2020 at 27.7 million.50 According to Secretary Leonor Briones, enrollment in public schools dropped by 3% compared to last year’s enrollment. On the other hand, 748 out of the total 14,435 private schools offering basic education are not operating this school year. This affected 3,233 teachers and 40,345 learners.51 22 DepEd issued policy directives to provide measures to prevent and control COVID-19 at basic education schools and DepEd Offices. They conducted continuous health monitoring of learners and personnel, such as a webinar series on capacity building on the provision of remote psychological support through play for elementary learners participated by public elementary school teachers, school heads, and non-teaching personnel. Considering the effects of the long community quarantine on the mental health of DepEd personnel, DepEd also organized a webinar series entitled “Wellness Check Series for DepEd Personnel” via the DepEd Philippines Facebook page. Given the pandemic situation, DepEd pushed through with enrollment through remote methods. CHR Region XI however reports that IPs faced challenges during the online enrolment due to the remoteness of their area and unavailability of internet or cellular signal.52 This includes the implementation of the use of e-books as part of the “new normal” in Philippine education.53 23 Also, several local government units (LGUs) have shown good practices in providing the needs of students in their respective communities. Parañaque, Pasig, San Juan, Manila, Quezon City, and LGUs from other regions distributed tablets and laptops for students 47 Ibid. 48 See https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/07/24/supplements/blended-learning-is-the-new-normal-in-philippineeducation/744913/. 49 Office of the President of the Philippines (2020, March 16) Community Quarantine Over the Entire Luzon and Further Guidelines for the Management of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-190 Situation, available at https://www. officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/03mar/20200316-MEMORANDUM-FROM-ES-RRD.pdf. 50 Department of Education, Official Statement on Enrollment Data. July 17, 2020 available at https://www.deped.gov. ph/2020/07/17/official-statement-11/, accessed 22 September 2020. 51 https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/9/9/Private-schools-temporary-closure-DepEd-.html, accessed 22 September 2020. 52 CHR Region XI (2020, July 30). Regional Human Rights Situation Report January 2020 to June 2020, p. 17. 53 National Disaster Risk and Reduction and Management Council, National Task Force Coronavirus Disease-2019 Situational Report No. 173, September 21, 2020, available at http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/4036/ National_Task_force_CORONAVIRUS_Disease_2019_issued_on_21September2020.pdf, accessed 22 September 2020.