QUEZON City Mayor Josefina ‘Joy’ Belmonte said that the University of the Philippines Diliman has the liberty to decide whether it will hold a two-week academic break or not.

“We respect the independence of the University of the Philippines as a chartered institution, and we trust that the University Administration with extensive consultation will decide best for the welfare of its learners and faculty relative to the proposed timeline,” Belmonte said in response to a letter sent by the UPD Student Council.

Earlier, the UPDSC asked Belmonte to declare a two-week wellness and recovery break due to Covid19 surge.

Belmonte said that the city government entrusts the decision to suspend classes to the schools and universities.

“At the height of the recent wave of infections due to the Omicron variant, recognizing the various circumstances of education institutions, the City Government entrusted the decision to declare suspension to School Administrators, while encouraging the consultation with its faculty and learners,” Belmonte said.