CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines --Classes in public and private colleges and universities throughout the country will start on June 15 and not June 8 as originally scheduled.

Dr. Emmanuel Angeles, chair of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), announced the postponement on Saturday, saying the delay will give time for students who traveled abroad to do self-quarantine against the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

"We have to do this as a safeguard for the health of thousands of students. Classes will have to be reset to avoid the spread of this new flu," Angeles said in a telephone interview from Angeles City, where he received the ambassador of East Timor as guest.

Angeles ordered the postponement of classes through a memorandum dated June 5. It is addressed to heads of private and public higher education institutions, state universities and colleges, local city colleges and regional directors of CHEd.

On top of the need to put in place a preventive measure against A (H1N1), he said the agency moved the opening of classes due to the inclement weather and the need to extend the enrollment period for students whose parents are financially hard-up.

"I assure you there is no need to panic. We're helping the Department of Health in its drive to contain the spread of A(H1N1)," Angeles said.

He issued the advisory after three students of the De La Salle Universityin Manila tested positive for the virus after trips from countries with A(H1N1) cases.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the three students have been responding well to treatment.