Show cause order issued to UE Manila after school defies ‘health break’

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Thursday issued a show cause order against University of the East (UE) Manila after the school refused to suspend classes for a week-long “health break.”

Moreno issued the order after the UE’s news organization reported that UE president Ester Garcia defied the declaration of class suspension of the Manila City government.

“Mayors do not have authority to cancel classes at the tertiary level,” Garcia was quoted saying in a report from the UE Redwire news organization.

In a Facebook live, Moreno presented a copy of the show cause order and justified his suspension of classes in the city under the local government code and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) memorandum.

The Manila mayor said the UE Manila management should reply within a period of three days from the receipt of the copy and explain why a cease and desist order should not be issued against the university.

He said failure to reply within the deadline period “shall be dealt with accordingly by the City Government of Manila, through the Bureau of Permits.”

“If it is clear for you that I don’t have authority, go find yourself a local government. You may go,” Moreno warned Garcia.

Moreno on Thursday declared a “health break” for students and teachers in both public and private schools in Manila from January 14 to 21, 2022.

In a press conference, Moreno announced that there would be no classes in all levels in both public and private schools in Manila to reduce the anxiety level of the teachers and students following the rise of COVID-19 infections.

Moreno, who is seeking the presidency in the 2022 elections, said the one-week health break would hopefully allow COVID-infected students and teachers, as well as parents, to recover from the disease. — BM, GMA News