MANILA — The country's COVID-19 task force has removed the medical insurance requirement for students attending the limited in-person classes, Malacañang said on Friday.

Government earlier this year allowed colleges and universities under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 to hold face-to-face classes at full capacity, but those attending physical classes must be enrolled in PhilHealth or any insurance provider.

• Gov't OKs full capacity for college, university in-person classes under Alert Level 1

"Upon the recommendation of the Commission on Higher Education, Section 4, item H of the CHED-DOH joint memorandum circular... pertaining to the medical insurance for students is hereby repealed," Deputy Palace spokesperson Kris Ablan said in a press briefing.

• PhilHealth urges college students to get insurance for face-to-face classes

There were no details immediately available on why CHED recommended it in the first place.

But the National Union of Students of the Philippines earlier criticized the medical insurance requirement, saying that not all students can afford health insurance.

They urged government to fund this instead.

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