It is in response to the ongoing energy crisis.
In a memorandum issued by Maria Luz C. Vilches, PhD, Vice President for Higher Education at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), members of the faculty, staffers, and students were told that the higher education (HE) cluster will have temporary restrictions on international and domestic mobility.
According to the rationale, it is in light of the current global energy crisis and escalating disruptions to air travel, as well as the reminder from the University President, Roberto Yap, “to exercise prudence in the consumption of energy and financial resources in this period of uncertainty” from his memorandum dated March 18, 2026.
Per the latest memorandum for HE cluster, the processing of new requests for permission to travel, whether international or domestic, regardless of funding source, will be temporarily suspended until May 31, 2026.
However, exemptions may be made for mission-critical travel, such as those that may have a “profound impact” on the university’s ability to pursue its academic mission and deliver results.
“In these instances, HE Deans / Sub-cluster AVPs are expected to closely review the special requests on a case-to-case basis, weighing each request on the merits and burdens of such travel,” with the memo adding steps and required documents that need to be submitted to relevant officers.
Meanwhile, for students, this also means that all University-related travel for HE students are likewise temporarily suspended from April 1 to June 30, including some programs organized by the institution or the faculty.
“Students who have incurred significant expenses and who still wish to pursue study abroad, are strongly urged to seek close guidance from their parents and come to a discerned decision about whether or not to proceed with the mobility,” the document read.
It added, “In cases where students and parents decide to proceed with the mobility, the standard pre-departure clearance process, including the revised Declaration and Undertaking, will continue to be required.”
In the last part of the the letter, Vilches wrote, “These measures are adopted in the spirit of prudence, shared responsibility, and discernment, and will be reviewed as global conditions evolve.”