“University of the East, wag matigas ulo niyo ah. Nagdeklara na kami ng suspensyon ng klase. Ngayon, kung ayaw niyong sumusod, umalis kayo sa lungsod ng Maynila. We will withdraw your permit to operate in the City of Manila,”
This is what Mayor Isko Moreno warned to the University of the East (UE) Manila Campus to follow the class suspension order of the City government or else he would not allow the school to operate anymore.
In a live Facebook video, Moreno in the first day of his work as Mayor of Manila told UE that all the students, including college level, are not “frogman” who could bear the strong rains and swim into the flood.
According to Moreno, UE only suspended the classes of Elementary and Senior High School level while they still insisted that the College students are exempted in the suspension.
“Ngayon mga kababayan, mga taga pamahalaan ng UE… hindi frogman ang mga estudyante sa kolehiyo… kung ano po ang pagpapahalaga ko sa mga maliliit na bata na estudyante ng elementarya, ng high school… ganun din po ang equal na pagpapahalaga natin sa mga college students,” Moreno said.
Moreno heard that UE is always not following the orders of the City Government of Manila many times.
He expressed his disappointment to the management of UE, saying that he’s prioritizing the welfare of Manilenos especially students, while the said University is just trying to ignore the orders of class suspension.
“Wag niyong sasabihin sa akin na kayo ay under CHED… responsibilidad po ng alkalde ng lungsod na mapangalagaan ang kaligtasan ng kanyang nasasakupan at nasasakupan nitong mamamayan,” Isko said.
“I hope you’d learn your lesson, never do that again to us, we only care, but if you don’t care for your students. I think if I’m a parent I will not ask my son or daughter to enroll in your institution,” he added.
Moreno insisted that while education is important, the safety of the students should be prioritized.
He said that he would not punish UE today, however, he warned the school and other universities to follow the orders of the government next time or they should look for another City to operate.
“Ayoko na pong mauulit yan, kung hindi rin kayo susunod.. kayong mga eskwelahan sa tagubilin ng pamahalaan ng lungsod ng Maynila, ayon sa pag sasaayos, ayon sa pangangalaga ng kaligtasan, you are not welcome to the City of Manila. Mag sara na po kayo,” he said.
“Wag po kayong masanay na walang gobyerno ang lungsod ng Maynila, masanay na po kayo simula today, mayroon na pong gobyerno ang lungsod ng Maynila,” he added.