If it rains on Graduation Day, UP to announce degrees through text

The administration of the University of the Philippines in Diliman is expected to inform graduating students through text that they have been conferred their respective degrees if the university rites are canceled on Saturday due to incluement weather.

According to the 2015 commencement guide uploaded in the website of UP Diliman, the university shall issue six weather bulletins before the ceremony on June 28 at 7:30 a.m.

The bulletins are scheduled to be issued as follows: June 22 at 8 a.m., June 27 at 6 p.m., and on June 28 at 1 a.m., 3 a.m., 4 a.m., and 5 p.m.

In any of the schedules, UP Chancellor Michael Tan may announce via text message that the ceremony is cancelled and that UP President Alfredo Pascual has conferred the degrees to the graduates.

The draft text message reads: "From Chancellor Michael Tan: Due to inclement weather, the 2015 UP Diliman General Commencement Exercises is cancelled. The Office of the President conveys the conferment of your degrees. Thank you and keep safe."

School authorities may also decide to cut short the ceremony, the commencement guide said.

This is the first time the graduation rites are held in June following UP's decision to shift the start of its academic calendar from June to August.

In an e-mail sent to GMA News Online, UP Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Benito Pacheco said the university recognizes the importance of the commencement exercises for the students and their parents.

"Even without attending, the candidate for graduation will eventually receive the conferment of the degree by the President," Pacheco said.

Pacheco is also the chair of the 2015 Steering Committee for the General Commencement Exercises

"There is no plan of conferment of degrees by text message. There is only a plan of general announcement of the President's alternative action in case of inclement weather or worsening weather.  The chance of rain is long estimated by weather forecasters at less than 10 percent chance," he added.

Pacheco said the weather watch is an initiative of the publicity sub-committee and is a convenient way of communicating any advisory to the graduating students.

University Student Council chairperson John Paulo “JP” de las Nieves said it is important that the hard work of graduating students are recognized in a ceremony.

"Bilang mag mag-aaral, napakahalaga pa rin kung ang pag-aapruba ng mga degree na pinaghirapan ng apat na taon o higit pa ay daraan sa isang seremonya," he said.

State weather bureau PAGASA earlier said that the rainy season will likely start in the second half of June. -NB, GMA News