MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has urged private universities and colleges to defer the collection of fees during the month-long quarantine period of the entire island of Luzon due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a press briefing aired over state-run PTV Thursday, CHEd chair Prospero De Vera also appealed for the collection of fees to be on a 鈥渟taggered鈥� basis after the Luzon quarantine period.
鈥淎koy鈥� nagpalabas ng pakiusap sa mga private entities na kung pwede wala munang collection ng tuition for this month,鈥� De Vera said.
鈥�(At) kung pwede staggered 鈥榶ung payment ng tuitions sa mga susunod na buwan para hindi mahirapan ang ating mga estudyante,鈥� he added.
The CHEd chief said that some universities in Metro Manila have already heeded his appeal, namely, the聽 University of Perpetual Help System, Immaculate Concepcion Institutions and members of the Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities.
President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under 鈥�enhanced community quarantine鈥� until April 13 in a bid to arrest the continuous spread of the new coronavirus.
His order suspended public transportation and strictly enforced a mandatory home quarantine to over 50 million people in the region.
The Philippines has 202 confirmed COVID-19 infections with 17 deaths as of posting time.