UST employees who fail to secure health permit to be locked out of MyUSTe portal

Workers will have to spend P625 yearly for the health permit to be renewed
Art by Janssen Judd Romero/ THE FLAME

ALL UST personnel who fail to submit a copy of their health certificate or professional tax receipt (PTR) by July 31 would be blocked from accessing the University’s official online service, according to a document stamped by UST and two Manila offices.

A frequently asked questions (FAQs) document issued last week states that all University teaching and non-teaching staff are directed to comply with the sanitary permit requirement or PTR “as early as possible,” saying non-compliant employees will not be allowed to proceed with any transaction in the MyUSTe portal after the deadline.

The document was stamped by UST, the Manila Health Department and Lungsod ng Maynila.

“University staff who have not complied with the required submission shall receive reminder announcements whenever they log into their myUSTe accounts. University staff will be given the option to skip the announcement only until before the deadline,” the sheet read.

“However, when the deadline has lapsed, University staff can no longer skip the announcement. They will be required to submit their Health Certificate or PTR before they can proceed with any other transaction in myUSTe,” it added.

The University began imposing the health permit requirement in April in line with Ordinance 8793 or the Sanitation and Disinfection Code of the City of Manila issued in 2021. Under the ordinance, employees must provide a valid ID, stool and urine samples, a filled-out drug test form and biometrics to the Manila Health Department. Workers will have to spend P625 yearly for the health permit to be renewed.

UST employees engaged in professional practice under government regulating bodies may be exempted from applying for a health permit should they have paid for a PTR, which is proof of their annual payment of professional tax.

The ordinance has drawn flak, with some UST employees describing the policy as burdensome, unjust and invasive.

In a memorandum addressed to all University staff dated July 18, UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel said the Manila Health Department would prioritize all UST personnel with appointments set for July 26 from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

University employees are instructed to submit a hard copy of their health certificate or PTR to the UST Health Service for validation, as mandated by the Manila office sanitation inspection team, the FAQs page stated.

Upon approval, each employee will have to individually upload his or her health permit or PTR in the MyUSTe portal with the assistance of the UST Santo Tomas e-Service Providers.

Under Section 85 of the city ordinance, individuals who fail to comply with the health permit requirement will be fined not more than P3,000 for the first offense and not more than P5,000 and the revocation of their health certificate for the second offense.

Meanwhile, Section 86 stated that establishments will be required to pay a fine of not more than P3,000 for the first offense; not more than P4,000 for the second offense and a recommendation for a cease-and-desist order from the Manila Health Department to the Business Permits and Licensing Office; and P5,000 for the third offense and a recommendation for a permanent closure order from the same office.

A written memo may be issued to an employee who fails to follow the policy, while “additional measures” may be imposed for continued non-compliance to prevent penalties, based on the FAQs document.

UST is currently requesting the Manila office to allow a digital submission of the documents as proof of compliance. F — Ma. Alyanna Selda

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