A coalition of teachers from various universities in Manila is calling for the repeal of a city ordinance that requires health permits for employees.
In a letter to Mayor Honey Lacuna dated July 31, the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (CoTeSCUP) expressed concerns about the ordinance’s discriminatory application and financial burden on workers, according to The Varsitarian, the official student publication of the University of Sto. Tomas (UST)
The ordinance, known as Manila Ordinance 8793, mandates employees secure health permits to work in the city.
CoTeSCUP argues the ordinance is “discriminatory” and “counterproductive,” pointing out some private schools do not require health permits for their staff, leading to inconsistent enforcement.
Associate Professor Rene Tadle, CoTeSCUP president and a UST faculty member, said the letter was issued in solidarity with the Organisasyon ng Nagkakaisang Empleyado ng UST (ONE-UST).
ONE-UST has criticized the ordinance for its “discriminatory nature,” claiming it is applied unfairly within and outside the university.
Tadle added, “It’s painful because UST, which is supposed to teach its students to be critical thinkers, would force and threaten its workers to follow a highly questionable ordinance.”
He also mentioned they are prepared to take legal action if no changes occur.
CoTeSCUP highlighted the financial strain of obtaining the health permit, which costs P625, not including additional expenses for required medical exams.
The group argues this requirement is redundant, as many establishments already conduct annual health checkups.
The teachers’ coalition also raised concerns about the mandatory drug testing included in the ordinance.
They said the requirement “indiscriminately place[s] every worker to drug testing,” which raises privacy issues.
CoTeSCUP noted professionals, such as lawyers and doctors, are exempt from this requirement, calling for a justification of this exemption to ensure equal protection under the law.
Manila Ordinance 8793, enacted on Dec. 2, 2021, under former Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, aims to set sanitation and disinfection standards in the city.
The teachers’ coalition is urging the current administration to review and reconsider its implications for workers in the education sector.
