The Varsitarian

NEXT TIME there’s a storm, suspending classes in flood-prone UST is just one text away.

UST has tied up with Globe Telecom to provide exclusive subscriber identity module (SIM) cards to students and employees, allowing them to get up-to-date University announcements.

Office of Planning and Quality Management head Fr. Arthur Dingel, O.P. said 50,000 Globe SIM cards would be distributed to the Thomasian community.

“It would be very handy during the rainy season when the students will just receive a text message from the Secretary General about the suspension of classes in times of heavy flooding,” he said.

Under the contract, Globe will give UST a total of 480,000 free text messages every month to be able to send official notices and announcements.

A “hack-proof” messaging system will be installed at either the Office of the Rector or the Office of the Secretary General to ensure the credibility of information sent to SIM card holders, Dingel said.

At least 3,000 people were trapped inside the campus last September 26 when the announcement of suspension of classes came in late at 10 a.m., despite the Rector’s decision to let students go home at 9 a.m.

Dingel clarified that the UST-Globe SIM card is not compulsory. In October 13, he issued a memorandum to all deans, principals, and department heads asking how many would avail themselves of the new SIM card.

About 5,000 alumni will also be given SIM cards.

“This would be a great help for us to reach our alumni during the quadricentennial celebration,” Dingel said.

There is no definite timeframe yet for the release of the Globe SIM cards, but producing them usually take three months, he said. Darenn G. Rodriguez