Far Eastern University (FEU) responded to the recovery period request of FEU Central Student Organization (FEUCSO) by instructing faculty members to provide flexibility and adjustment of submission deadlines amid the inclement weather through a letter response yesterday, September 4.

“As part of the existing policies, faculty members have been instructed to offer necessary accommodations and flexibility, including reviewing and adjusting submission deadlines. The administration emphasizes the importance of resilience and guiding students through the available relief options,” the FEU statement read.

The University also said that the suspension of classes has already cut contact hours and may cause additional missed academic opportunities. 

Since the beginning of S.Y. 2024-2025, 12 days of classes have been disrupted due to holidays, inclement weather, sudden suspensions, and independent learning days.

According to their response to FEUCSO, the University will follow the local government unit’s announcement regarding the class modality in the following days.

“For the remainder of the week, FEU will follow PAGASA's and the government's lead on the modalities,” the administration answered.

The statement also instructed students to consult with their facilitators regarding academic accommodations.

FEUCSO first sent a recommendation letter to the Administration asking for leniency in attendance and deadlines, and a shift to asynchronous classes due to effects brought by Tropical Storm Enteng. 

Furthermore, a follow-up to support the letter was sent containing the weather forecast of moderate to heavy rains for the upcoming days and the overflow situation at La Mesa Dam.

FEUCSO President Christmer Roland Ordanes emphasized in a separate Facebook post that traveling amid the current weather and floods will be challenging for both students and faculty members.

In a clarification dialogue, FEUCSO suggested for the University to take proactive measures rather than wait for the government's instructions.

A personal statement from the FEUCSO president also highlighted that private institutions may act independently to serve the needs of its students, raising the concern on how to continue with the learning plan amid weather forecasts.

Ordanes cited various institutions like De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, Trinity University of Asia, and Technological Institute of the Philippines who have set a recovery period for the rest of the week.

Due to the urgency of the matter, FEUCSO has yet to conduct their TamCheck survey, with FEU stating that the number of students who require assistance is essential to assess the need for a recovery period.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, second-year Psychology student Shania Tayo, who travels everyday from Laguna, expressed the difficulty of commuting amid poor weather conditions.

“May mga situations talaga na hindi maaasahan lalo na kapag may bagyo, isa na doon ay ‘yung mahirap makahanap ng transportation since ‘yung other part ay binabaha na ‘tsaka kakaonti lang din talaga minsan ‘yung bumabiyahe kapag maulan (There are unexpected situations, especially if there is a typhoon. One of those is the difficulty of looking for transportation since the other parts are flooded and there is less public transportation available during rainy days),” she said.

Tayo also added the importance of an early suspension especially for those who are situated in areas hours away from the University.

Meanwhile, second-year Medical Technology student Sierra Co shared her concern about their current situation as a student who resides in a flood-prone area, 

“If ever po na mag-resume na ang classes at hindi pa humupa ang baha sa amin, baka mapilitan po akong hindi pumasok muna kahit may mga pendings po kami na activities… Sa lugar po kasi namin, Bulacan, hindi po agad-agad humuhupa ‘yung tubig (If ever the classes will resume and the flood hasn’t subsided, I might be forced to miss classes even though we have pending activities… Because in our area, Bulacan, the flood does not subside immediately),” she stated.

The student also calls for enough time to recover and settle after the typhoon.

“Hindi po gano’n kadali na agad maka-recover po. Some of us need to help our parent[s]… Para na din po sa safety ng mga affected students na hindi agad-agad iisiping pumasok kahit baha pa (It is not that easy to recover… Some of us need to help our parents… Also for the safety of the affected students so they won’t have to think about attending classes, especially since there is still flood),”  Co added.

Face-to-face classes in FEU have been suspended from Monday until today, September 5, as per the national and local government’s announcement. 

Despite Tropical Storm Enteng leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility yesterday morning, some areas in Luzon continue to experience heavy to intense rain caused by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat enhanced by the storm.

 - Cassandra Luis J. De Leon

(Photo by Zedrich Xylak Madrid/FEU Advocate)