Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Mitigation of the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

March 17, 2020

CHED ADVISORY NO. 005-20

GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION, CONTROL AND MITIGATION OF THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (HEIs)

In connection with the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated 16 March 2020 which provides for the expansion of the community quarantine and the stringent social distancing measures to cover the entire Luzon effective 12:00 am of 17 March 2020 and expiring 12:00 am of 13 April 2020, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) hereby provides the terms of the Memorandum that directly affect all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and issues this advisory to all HEIs. This advisory should be read in conjunction with previously issued CHED Advisory on the COVID-19 (Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4).

• An enhanced community quarantine is imposed in the entire Luzon region effective 17 March 2020 to 12:00 am of 13 April 2020. Enhanced community quarantine entails strict implementation of home quarantine, suspension of transport services, regulation of provision of food and essential health services and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to ensure enforcement of quarantine procedures. It will also impose strict travel restrictions (air, sea and land) to and from Luzon.

• Classes in all levels and school activities including on-the-job training (OJT) and internships for the entire Luzon region are suspended until 14 April 2020 and shall resume on 15 April 2020.

• HEIs in the entire Luzon region should immediately advise its students, faculty, and staff who will be affected by the enhanced community quarantine to arrange for immediate departure to their hometowns.

Note that anyone who is required to fly out from any of the international airports in Luzon will be allowed to travel for a period of 72 hours from the effectivity of the enhanced community quarantine. Inbound passengers in transit upon effectivity of the enhanced community quarantine shall be allowed entry subject to applicable quarantine procedures if they came from countries with existing travel restrictions imposed by the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

• HEIs should direct all its employees to work from home except for offices which will require a skeletal workforce that will ensure the provision of essential basic services such as processing of salary, janitorial services to clean and disinfect facilities and offices and security services. HEIs with skeletal workforce must ensure its strict compliance with the precautionary measures directed by the DOH and quarantine measures enforced by the DILG and its respective local government. This arrangement should remain in effect until the enhanced community quarantine has been lifted.

• Outside of Luzon, depending on the threat posed by COVID-19, local government units have the discretion to suspend classes within its respective jurisdiction provided that, measures and arrangements are in place to allow the students to continue fulfilling their requirements. Whenever a class suspension is ordered, HEIs should inform the students of the importance of remaining in their homes during class suspension.

• HEIs must work and coordinate with their local governments and CHED Regional Offices if they need to suspend classes, adjust their semesters or cancel events within their universities and colleges. CHED Regional Offices may provide assistance and support as needed.

• HEIs are directed to complete an electronic form (e-form) which will be directly provided by their respective CHED Regional Office. The e-form will provide information and data on their status and actions undertaken to support the government efforts to manage the COVID-19 situation.

Furthermore, HEIs are requested to assist CHED in informing students that the application for the CHED Scholarship Program may be submitted through https://ched.gov.ph/stufaps/. Students no longer need to submit their application at CHED Regional Office.

As the pandemic situation is very fluid, the IATF, together with the Executive Secretary, Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of National Defense, Environmental and Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, Social Welfare and Development, Finance, Education, and Agriculture, and various heads of the military will continue to meet on a regular basis to assess the Covid-19 threat and will provide updates on any Changes to the Enhanced Community Quarantine and Stringent Social Distancing Measures. CHED will provide new directives and guidelines as they become available.

In the meantime, CHED strongly advises HEIs to refer and continue to observe the instructions stipulated in CHED Advisories Nos. 1 to 4.

(SGD.) J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III, DPAChairman