The Commission on Higher Education said on Friday, August 14, that colleges and universities are not covered by RA 11480, the law thatRA 11480 was the law that gave President Rodrigo Duterte the power to move the school opening past August because of calamities or upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Education.
De Vera said that colleges and universities open their school year as approved by their board, depending on the way they structure their semesters. "Binibigyan natin sila ng kapangyarihan o authority na magbukas, sangayon sa mga pangangailangan at kalagayan ng mga pamantasan. So hindi kailangan ng bagong policy sa higher [education]. Kasi 'yung policy na 'yun, pinapayagan na magbukas sila sa anumang buwan na sila ay handa,""So there is no need for a new policy because as I've said, some universities are actually opening [in] October.