UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Student Center Technological University of the Philippines – Taguig

Km. 14 East Service Road, Western Bicutan, Taguig City

May 25, 2020

Dr. Selfa J. Briones

Campus Director
TUP-Taguig

Thru: Channels

CC: DR. JESUS RODRIGO F. TORRES

President, TUP System

HON. ALLONA JADE D. NADERA

President, TUP Manila USG
Student Regent, TUP

Subject: Request permission to temporarily Delay the Third Term for this AY
2019- 2020 due to some unavoidable circumstances, and alternative proposal to
start the Third Term AY 2019- 2020 on August 3, 2020 for the utilization of
Flexible Learning.

Dear Madame,

DR. JESUS RODRIGO F. TORRES

President, TUP System

HON. ALLONA JADE D. NADERA

President, Manila USG Student Regent, TUP
Greetings in the spirit of good governance and servant leadership!

“The USG – Taguig, as leading, outstanding, and reliable student government shall
truly represent the students by being an active participant in developing and
implementing policies link with the administration and other student organizations to
protect and promote the Students’ rights and welfare, uphold democratic consultation
and at all times vigilant to irregularities. It shall provide relevant services in pursuit of
achieving academic excellence and responsible students,” as stated in the 2012
Constitutional and by Laws of the University Student Government – Taguig.

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 UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Student Center Technological University of the Philippines – Taguig
Km. 14 East Service Road, Western Bicutan, Taguig City

The USG – Taguig is the highest policy-making body of the Technological University
of the Philippines – Taguig studentry. The organization stands to represent the
students for communicating concerns to the administration regarding about
grievances of the students. The organization also fulfills as a link between the two
stakeholders, providing better plans that will affect the general welfare of the students.

The USG – Taguig would like also to acknowledge first our ever fervent and dynamic
Campus Director, Dr. Selfa J. Briones, formulating and implementing policies as a high
university authority.

As the COVID – 19 pandemic in the Philippines outspread and has inflict rising of
confirmed cases, the National Government on March 12, announced classes in all
levels and school activities including on-the-job training (OJT) and internships for the
entire Luzon region are suspended, pursuant to Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) COVID – 19 advisory no. 5. On March 15, 2020, the National Government
declared that the entire Luzon region is placed under Enhanced Community
Quarantine, pursuant to Executive Order No. 112

In cope with suspension and expected delay to the academic calendar of the
institution, the Technological University of the Philippines – Taguig released
Administrative Resolution No. 001 s, 2020 which states that the Third Term A.Y. 2019-
2020 shall start on May 25, 2020 or June 1, 2020 through online class. This will be
based on Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution No. 36, Higher Education Institutions
using Full Online Education may start anytime.

In behalf of the TUP- Taguig students, the USG- Taguig is asking your grace to
temporarily delay the Third Term this Academic Year 2019- 2020.

During the course of enhanced community quarantine, students raised their opinions
and grievances on social media platforms as they were informed and have learned
about the upcoming term which will be done through online classes. On May 9, 2020,
the Technological University of the Philippines – Taguig (TUP-T) University Student
Government digitally administered online survey to the students of TUP – Taguig to
gather about their concerns and opinions regarding about the online classes. In line
with this, we request to consider these concerns collated by the body in your decision
making to temporarily delay the third term:

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 UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Student Center Technological University of the Philippines – Taguig
Km. 14 East Service Road, Western Bicutan, Taguig City

a. Online class is a new type of learning platform and may be utilize with difficulty
by the students. Online class by employing learning tools like Google
Classroom, Zoom, MS Teams, etc. will require resources that may not be
available for most homes such as internet. With this, students may have the
need to go outside and violate protocols of community quarantine and
preventive measures set by the Department of Health (DOH) to stay at home.

b. In line with the first concern, it is important to consider that not all students
have a stable internet connection in their homes nor the ability to purchase
or use digital devices such as laptops, computers, etc. that could be best
used in submitting academic materials, answer quizzes through online; they
depend on computer shops or internet cafes. But this is impossible due to the
on going COVID19 pandemic that resulted in a metro-wide community
quarantine encouraging everyone, especially students, to stay at home.

c. For students who are currently residing in their provinces are having a hard time
finding a good quality of connection for them to cope up with other students
who has a good connection and try to join in class discussions because of the
‘turtle’ internet connections in Rural areas. We also know that the
technology here in Manila are evolving rapidly rather than in Rural areas.

d. Due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine, some works and businesses

are suspended. Most of the parents, guardians and even themselves who are
working students are unemployed, having limited to no source of income.

e. If the online class is implemented, buying or loaning of electronic gadgets

and providing an internet service will be prioritized. How about the basic
needs such as foods, water, and electricity?

f. There are students who are positive in COVID19 and under investigation
and monitoring. If online class is implemented, it will add burden to them
psychologically and physically.

g. The administration has no strategic plans and guidelines for the Third Term
A.Y. 2019- 2020. It will be a burden for both teachers and students.

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 UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Student Center Technological University of the Philippines – Taguig
Km. 14 East Service Road, Western Bicutan, Taguig City

h. Online class will not be enough to cater some Laboratory activities, workshops
and those subjects who are focused to practical applications.

i. There are students deciding to skip their third term because they are not
capable to do an online class. Also, they are worried that if they failed to attend
their online classes, they might get markings of Unofficially Dropped equivalent
to Failed (5).

The USG – Taguig believes that the concerns above mentioned are for the safety of
the students to isolate oneself in their homes to avoid being exposed to the people
that can be a potential carrier of the virus. It is also in the best interest of the students
to guard their safety and self-health from this pandemic.

Conforming, these are some points the USG – Taguig proposed and must be
considered by the administration to delay the term up until the month of August:

1. To be able to adopt Flexible Learning which is more convenient to all students.

It will be an offline and online mode of learning.

2. To have two more months to prepare for the Flexible Learning because of the
lack of rigid plans by the administration.

3. To be able to adjust whose families have been suspended from their work with
no income during Enhanced Community Quarantine.

4. For those students without the convenience to use electronic devices, we

suggest to provide simple group activities should be given wherein those
students who have access to internet and electronic devices can work online in
behalf of the group, those who are incapacities could cooperate and contribute
through texting or other mode of communicating.

According to the Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, “The
State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education to all levels,
and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.”

As stated by UP Resilience Institute about the opening of classes, “The opening of the
class must depends on the assessments and recommendations of health science
experts not based on simple online surveys because we must prioritize the safety
and health of teachers and mostly students.”

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 UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Student Center Technological University of the Philippines – Taguig
Km. 14 East Service Road, Western Bicutan, Taguig City

“Education must always be a human right and never a privilege. Forcing of online
classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a direct form of classism. It viciously
attacks the disadvantage majority and luxurious few as it is economically expensive,
physically destructive, and socially divisive.” From the winning piece of Mr. Aaron
DC. Naco in the Online Editorial Writing Competition, Division of Nueva Ecija entitled
Virtual Classism.

Students is the largest stakeholder of an academic institution, so the concerns and

opinions of the students must be heard.

We sincerely hope that you consider these points from and for the TUP-T students in
the decision-making.

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