THE UNIVERSITY has vowed to comply with the City of Manila’s health permit mandate amid criticisms by labor unions.
UST indirectly responded to objections raised by UST labor unions over the health permit requirement, in a statement released on Wednesday and without specifying the issue it was addressing.
“True to her tradition of excellence and integrity, the University of Santo Tomas is committed to meeting the requirements of the laws and policies of regulatory agencies, including ordinances from the Manila City Government,” the statement posted on Facebook read.
“The University ensures the implementation of relevant measures to achieve timely compliance alongside ongoing dialogues with our stakeholders,” it added.
Manila Ordinance 8793, also known as the Sanitation and Disinfection Code of the City of Manila, made health certificates a requisite to operate a business in Manila after it was enacted 2021.
To obtain the certificate, employees must undergo a drug test, urinalysis, and stool exam at the frequently crowded and substandard public health laboratory on Alvarez Street, previously the location of the Sta. Cruz Public Library.
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UST first enforced the ordinance in April when the Office of the Vice Rector for Finance instructed all employees to secure the certificate until the end of Academic Year (AY) 2023 to 2024.
The Varsitarian has learned that UST’s compliance with the health permit requirement was being closely monitored by the City of Manila after it found UST in violation through a city-wide random check.
Penalties for establishments found violating the ordinance may reach P5,000, and may also result in the Manila Health Department recommending its permanent closure.
UST has since implemented various measures to promote compliance among employees.
In July, it told employees who fail to comply with Manila’s health requisites that they may have their MyUSTe access restricted, receive formal notices to comply, and face “other measures.”
UST has also decided to disallow non-compliant non-tenured faculty members from teaching, at least in Term 1 of Academic Year (AY) 2024-2025. This resulted in the reallocation of teaching loads to faculty members who were able to submit health permits and new hires, to minimize disruptions in teaching schedules.
READ MORE: Axe set to fall on non-tenured UST profs without health permits
Organisasyon ng Nagkakaisang Empleyado ng UST (ONE-UST), a coalition of UST faculty, support staff, and hospital personnel, had repeatedly called for a dialogue with the UST administration but to no avail.
UST employee unions have also pressed the University to use existing health benefits to pay for the cost of the health permit, and Manila to establish a satellite office at UST Manila where collection and testing of specimens can be done.
Various coalitions outside of UST, such as the National Federation of Labor and the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities in the Philippines, have backed the review of Manila’s health ordinance and questioned its legality.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna has yet to respond to ONE-UST’s plea for a third extension of the health permit deadline to Aug. 31.
