Hundreds of University of Santo Tomas (UST) employees are set to hold a prayer rally against the Manila Ordinance No. 8793 which requires all workers to secure a health permit from the local government every year.

“Our concern remains that UST workers may be left to seek justice in court independently. We cannot allow our faculty members to become sacrificial lambs to an unfair and unjust ordinance,” said the Organisasyon ng Nagkakaisang Empleyado-UST (ONE-UST), a coalition of UST employees’ unions, in a statement on Thursday, August 8.

The prayer rally will start at 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, August 9, in front of the university's gate on Lacson Avenue in Manila.

They disclosed that they are also considering to file a court case over the city ordinance. 

Over 1,000 UST faculty members, they said, may not be allowed to teach this semester for failing or refusing to secure a health certificate, which many of them consider illegal or unjust.

It added that the ordinance will affect thousands of other workers in Manila, not only those in universities, once fully implemented under Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan.

“Simultaneously, we are exploring ways to engage with the City Council of Manila, urging them to review and suspend the ordinance's implementation for educational institutions in the meantime,” the UST employees said.

ONE-UST released its statement after the university broke its silence on the issue on Wednesday, August 7.

“True to our tradition of excellence and integrity, the University of Santo Tomas is committed to meet the requirements of the laws and policies of regulatory agencies, including ordinances from the Manila city government. The University ensures the implementation of relevant measures to achieve timely compliance alongside ongoing dialogues with our stakeholders," the university management said.

According to a UST's student publication, The Flame, the university began mandating the health permit requirement in line with Ordinance 8793 or the Sanitation and Disinfection Code of the City of Manila in April.

ONE-UST emphasized that the ordinance requires worker to present their valid identification card, stool and urine samples, a filled-out drug test form and biometrics and pay around P600 to secure a health certificate from the local government each year and that those who fail to comply shall face a fine.

"The LGU does not accept health clearances from private hospitals or clinics, and employees need to undergo medical tests in LGU facilities," it added.

Meanwhile, the local government has not yet released its statement regarding the issue.

It said they are still checking the details with the Manila Health Department (MHD).