The College of Physical Therapy was the first to welcome a select number of students back inside PLM’s campus in Intramuros on Monday, November 29 after over a year of distance learning.
Select BS Physical Therapy students entered the campus and went through health screening and temperature checking at the gate before they were allowed to attend their first ever in-person learning session since March 2020, or when the City of Manila suspended face-to-face classes due to the local COVID-19 outbreak.
The students wore scrub suit uniforms, face masks, and face shields as they held a class inside the laboratory.
Advisories have been posted along hallways, classrooms, and common areas to constantly remind members of the PLM community about physical distancing, the wearing of masks, and proper hand washing and disinfection techniques.
“We at the PLM administration are excited to welcome back our students, although just a limited number for now, inside our campus. We exercise cautious optimism and ensure that minimum health protocols will be enforced at all times to keep members of our community safe,” PLM President Emmanuel Leyco said.
“Preparations are underway to prevent the return to school from becoming a super spreader of COVID-19. In turn, we enjoin our students to strictly adhere to health protocols to prevent the spread of infection,” he added.
Meanwhile, PLM is fast-tracking its preparations to gradually welcome a greater number of students on campus weeks after the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) allowing the resumption of face-to-face learning.
The university previously secured approval for the resumption of limited physical classes for the College of Medicine, which allowed graduating students to pursue their clinical clerkship at the Ospital ng Maynila.
Initial plans indicate that senior students, as well as those enrolled under laboratory classes, will be prioritized for the reopening of physical classrooms, subject to strict health protocols.
Meanwhile, the first batch of students under the College of Nursing (CN) are expected to return to classrooms on December 7 (Tuesday) and 11 (Saturday), with a second batch of nursing students scheduled on January 4 and 8, 2022, depending on their block schedules.
CN Dean Lady Anne De Jesus said a follow-up meeting with block presidents was held on Nov. 29, followed by a second consultation meeting with parents on Dec. 1. So far, only fourth year students will be invited to report to the campus to fulfill their requirements for Intensive Care Nursing skills laboratory.
On uniforms, the PLM administration is in the process of tapping suppliers for those who will need new sets. Other details will be made available to students through their respective colleges.
The University is also completing the retrofitting of classrooms and other facilities to ensure proper ventilation and physical distancing requirements.
Other students will continue to attend sessions under distance learning modalities, taking into consideration PLM’s student population of more than 18,000 enrollees in undergraduate and graduate programs.
Consultations with other PLM colleges and units are being scheduled to involve faculty, students, and their parents regarding such plans.
President Leyco also encouraged PLM faculty, staff, and students to already get their COVID-19 vaccine shots for better protection. Free vaccination is currently open to all Philippine residents aged 12 and older, while booster shots have already been rolled out for individuals who received their second dose at least six months ago to improve their body’s protection against COVID-19.
