STATEMENT OF YFPM DAVAO DE ORO ON THE FALSE INFORMATION OF 'SAVE OUR SCHOOLS NETWORK' AGAINST THE RESCUE OF CTCSM STUDENTS AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The Youth for Peace Movement strongly condemns the Save Our Schools (SOS) Network and its other allied organizations after spreading a 'fake information' concerning the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro's rescue of some 35 students of the Community Technical College of Southeastern Mindanao (CTCSM) at Brgy. Lapu-Lapu, Maco, Davao de Oro on May 16, 2020.

The Facebook post of SOS, which has no photo or video as evidence, accused that a group of "armed military, police, paramilitary, and representatives from the provincial government unit" forced the students to leave their campus, and even mentioned that the "state forces forcefully entered the dorms and rummaged the rooms where students are staying."

It is in the position of this organization to give light to this accusation and support the action of the Provincial Government to assist the stranded students.

As the COVID-19 pandemic lurks globally, the government is looking for ways to control the spread of the virus among our countrymen through its whole-of-the-nation approach. This gave birth to the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act," which provides guidelines to the national government and its local counterparts in responding to the crisis and ensuring the protection of every Filipino.

Along with this policy, the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro has also passed Executive Order 023-2020, which declares the whole Province to be under a Mandatory Community Quarantine to aggressively contain the COVID-19 and secure the people.

Part of the said Executive Order states that "there shall be a suspension of classes in all levels both private and public schools/colleges until further notice," and that all students should stay at home since they are susceptible to the virus.

However, a report came to the office of Honorable Alvera Rimando, Municipal Mayor of Maco that there were still students and teachers of CTCSM who were stranded in their campus. On May 14, 2020, the news released by DXDC 621 RMN Davao also stated that the school was still operating despite the class suspension order.

Prior to this, it has been revealed that some students of the said school reached out to the officials of Brgy. Lapu-Lapu, Maco to seek a Medical Certification so they could go home.

Upon receiving this information, the Provincial Government immediately formed a response team and coordinated with the School's Administration to formally turn-over the students and facilitate their transportation.

This revelation only proves that the allegation of the SOS that the students were forced to leave their school was untrue. It is also unjust that the act of the Provincial Government to protect the people in its premises, particularly answering the call of the stranded students to go home, will be misinterpreted by the same group.

As of the moment, the 35 students are under mandatory 14-day quarantine in an Isolation Facility in the Province to comply with the Provincial Health Protocol before they will be sent to their home Provinces. They will also undergo a Rapid Diagnostic Test for COVID-19 while hygiene kits and their basic needs will be provided during the course of the quarantine.

The Youth For Peace Movement Davao de Oro believes that in order to have a peaceful community, we need to follow our government's policies, especially in these times where our welfare is being challenged. We also believe that spreading fake information will not help in combating an unseen enemy but will only cause more confusion among our fellow citizens.

Lastly, the Youth for Peace Movement Davao de Oro urges everyone to stop spreading fake information about this issue and other issues and to start reading more on reliable sources.

Sources: 

PLGU Davao de Oro - https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=898755167218447&id=145890879171550&sfnsn=mo

DXDC 621 - https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4107022192671119&id=211511122222265&sfnsn=mo

SOS - https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3811704418901892&id=706524416086590&sfnsn=mo