STUDENT councils at the University of the Philippines-Diliman appealed for the extension of the mid-semester break to allow students, faculty and employees residing in typhoon-stricken areas to recover.

Last month, UP announced a one-week ‘reading break’  from November 2 to 6.

In a letter, the student councils said that the break was hardly felt because of the two successive typhoons that hit the country.

“Even before we are able to take advantage of this period, it became inevitable for the nation to face the wrath of nature with typhoon Quinta and super typhoon Rolly,” they said.

“Such force majeure occurrences affected several individuals and households which evidently suffered from varied home damages, signal interferences, electricity and power loss–components which are very vital in our current online/remote setup,” the councils added.

They also cited the presence of typhoon Siony that threatens Northern Luzon.

The councils, composed of the University Student Government, League of Student Councils, University Freshie Council, and different Freshies-Shiftees-Transferees Council asked UP Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo to suspend synchronous and asynchronous classes as well as other academic activities until November 15.