MANILA - The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday said it will review the proposal of the Department of Health to implement a "no vaccination, no enrollment" policy in public schools amid an increase of measles cases in the country.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said they have to consider the rights of the students, as much as there is a need to intensify immunization.

Instead, DepEd is looking into other ways to convince parents to have their children vaccinated.

Among these are developing consent and evaluation forms, verifying health records, and coordinating with health centers.

"Learners, parents, teaching and non-academic personnel, and stakeholders may rest assured that the department is working closely with DOH in monitoring measles cases and in strengthening efforts to combat the disease," Briones said in a statement.

• DOH: Over 11,000 measles cases, 189 deaths in Philippines

Records from DOH showed that some 11,459 have contracted measles while 189 have died because of the disease from Jan. 1 to Feb. 20 this year.

The National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the highest number of cases with 2,936 and 52 deaths followed by Calabarzon with 2,635 cases and 61 deaths. Most of the fatalities had no immunization for measles.

DOH earlier declared an outbreak of measles in Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas.

• Measles outbreak declared in 3 more regions