One of Manila’s biggest and oldest schools was called out today by the city’s new mayor for failing to suspend some classes despite the rain.
Newly-minted Manila Mayor Isko Moreno went on Facebook Live this afternoon to criticize the University of the East (UE), a private institution in Sampaloc, Manila, after it did not call for the suspension of classes in the college level despite the inclement weather.
Today was Moreno’s first day as Manila City mayor.
In a Facebook post that appeared on UE’s page, it announced that classes were suspended in its Manila and Caloocan campuses but only for Kinder to Grade 12.
However, the announcements made by Moreno in his Twitter and Facebook accounts said that the city government suspended classes in all levels, both for private and public schools from 12 noon onwards.
NEWS ADVISORY: Classes in all levels at all public and private schools are declared suspended starting 12 pm today, July 1, 2019.
Live video blog available via https://t.co/Z2fjz4xzOz#AlertoManileno pic.twitter.com/OS34qMwgHp
— Isko Moreno Domagoso (@IskoMoreno) July 1, 2019
In a video post that appeared on his Facebook account at around 1pm today, Moreno said that UE did not follow their orders.
“I’m now calling the attention of UE, the University of the East Manila, and I hope you’re following this,” he said in Filipino and English.
“We found out that you did not follow our declaration with regard to the cancellation of classes for the afternoon session. You amended it on your own and you only canceled elementary and high school. And you still asked your college students to attend classes. Administrators of UE, your college students are not frogmen.”
“I hope you have learned your lesson. Never do that again to us … I think if I am a parent I will not ask my son or daughter to enroll in your institution,” Moreno added.
“If schools do not follow the orders of Manila’s city government, you are not welcome in the City of Manila. Just close down. Shut down your institution,” he said.
At around 1pm, UE posted another announcement on their Facebook page. According to the newer post, the school said that it has suspended all classes in its Manila and Caloocan campuses. It’s unclear if the change of heart was brought about by Moreno’s online takedown.
UE’s later post has gone viral and has been shared almost 2,200 times as of this article’s posting.
Facebook user Gerald Samadan wrote on UE’s page: “You’re scared of Isko Moreno!”
Kylie Ramirez lamented: “Why did it take you so long to suspend classes. You had to wait for us to get wet.”
Den-Den Guerrero wrote: “Next time, follow mayor’s orders.”
“You made him (Moreno) so mad on his first day of office,” Adrianne Balangue said with a laughing emoji.
Moreno defeated former Manila mayor and former president Joseph Estrada in May’s midterm elections. Estrada was supposed to turn over documents and records to Moreno on Friday at the Quirino Grandstand but the former did not show up.
Reader Interactions