The Manila City government issued a Show Cause Order (SCO) to the University of the East (UE) for non-compliance with the city’s week-long (Jan. 14-21) health break.
Under Executive Order No. 07, Series of 2022 (EO 7), which was signed by Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday, Jan. 13, a week-long health break and suspension of classes from Jan. 14 to Jan. 21 will be observed by students and faculty in all Manila-based public and private schools.
The Office of the Mayor received a complaint pertaining to UE’s refusal to comply with EO 7 on Jan. 13.
The Office of the Mayor sent an SCO to UE asking for an explanation as to why a cease and desist order should not be filed against it.
“Failure on your part to answer in writing this Show Cause Order within the said period shall be considered as waiver on your part to be heard and your account shall be dealt with accordingly by the City Government of Manila, through the Bureau of permits,” read the SCO.
According to UE President Ester Garcia, city mayors do not have the authority to cancel classes at the tertiary level and that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) must first be consulted.
Meanwhile, UE’s student-led online publication RedWire reported that UE’s faculty union — University of the East Faculty Association (UEFA) — condemned Garcia’s refusal to comply with EO 7.
“The action of President Garcia is a clear defiance of the law and disobedience to the policies of the Local Government Unit which is just merely exercising its authority in protecting the health and welfare of its constituents against the dangers brought about by the ongoing pandemic,” the UEFA said in a statement.
The UEFA also called for Garcia’s resignation.
“UEFA and its members will take its own actions to curb this shameful and humiliating situation as our university, the University of the East, should not be tarnished to be an institution that does not know how to follow the rule of law,” added the UEFA.