UP Diliman defers opening of classes to June 16

MANILA, Philippines - As a precautionary measure against the A(H1N1) virus, the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) on Saturday said it was postponing its opening of classes. Cristina Hidalgo, vice president for public affairs of UPD, said that classes will starty June 16 instead of June 9. “It was announced today by the chancellor [Sergio S. Cao]," Hidalgo told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. UPD has also suspended the late registration for students who have not enrolled yet. As an autonomous entity, the UP System is not covered by the schedule set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which also announced on Saturday the postponement of the opening of classes in all colleges and universities nationwide. CHED Chairman Emmanuel Angeles said school opening will be on June 15 instead of June 8. The one-week period will give students who came from abroad enough time to self-quarantine. Earlier, De La Salle University suspended classes for one week after some students tested positive for A(H1N1), prompting other universities to follow suit. But Emmanuel said that there are two other reasons for the postponement. He said the weather has been unpredictable in the past days and many parents are having a hard time raising enough money to pay their children’s tuition, adding that June 15 falls on a pay day which in turn may give them time to pay tuition. - GMANews.TV