MANILA - The Presidential Communications Operations Office said Thursday that the Department of Education may use state-run television and radio stations to deliver lessons to students as in-person classes remain suspended in the coming school year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement they would meet with officials from the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation and Philippine Broadcasting Service to discuss the airing of educational programs by the DepEd.

The programs will feature licensed teachers serving as virtual educators and hosts, the PCOO said in a statement.

The PCOO added that its attached agencies were preparing regional facilities that could help support blended learning.

The communications office is also planning to increase the transmission power of state-run stations so educational programming may reach those in far-flung areas, Andanar said.

• Briones: DepEd to tap TV, radio for education amid pandemic

When classes formally start in August, schools would be using online platforms, printed and digital modules, television and radio to deliver lessons to students at home.

In-person classes have been suspended pending the development of a vaccine against COVID-19 to avoid exposing students, teachers and school personnel from contracting the respiratory illness.

In a meeting in Malacañang Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte said he was eyeing to procure transistor radios to help deliver lessons to poor students in far-flung areas.

• Duterte eyes transistor radios to help students in far-flung areas