Updates on the November 26, 2010 BOR meeting
Judy M. Taguiwalo
Faculty Regent
November 29, 2010
I am sharing these updates on the November 26 BOR meeting held in UP Cebu . The updates cover the substantial decisions and/or discussions which your Faculty Regent considers significant and are based on the notes I made during the meeting. The official minutes of previous Board of Regents meetings may be accessed at http://www.officeofthesecretary.webs.com/gazette.htm
1. Present at the meeting were President Roman, Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Former Business Administration Dean Magdaleno Albarracin, Alumni Regent Gladys Tiongco, Staff Regent Buboy Cabrera and myself. Prior to the start of the meeting, the new Student Regent, Jaqueline Eroles was sworn in by President Roman. She will serve until April 2011. President Roman chaired the early part of the meeting as the flight of CHED and BOR Chair Patricia Licuanan was delayed.
2. Important decisions on financial matters include the approval of the Christmas grocery allowance which is part of the CNA of the University and of the All UP Workers Union and the CNA between UP and the All UP Academic Employees Union.
Approval of reprogramming of UP Open University’s unexpended obligations of P4, 133,629.39 for MOOE, Faculty and Staff Development needs and for Capital outlay.
Approval of UP Manila ’s purchase of one unit of autoclave machine costing P6, 000,000.
Approval of request of UP Diliman for exemption from the restrictions on the suspension of purchase of motor vehicles to purchase one eight-seater motor vehicle for the use of the Office of the Chancellor. The amount will be sourced from the reprogrammed funds of Diliman approved by the BOR last May 27, 2010.
3. Discussions on matters arising from the previous meeting of the BOR included the Proposal to Lease Land of UPLB for a Commercial Solar Power Plant : An unsolicited bid from Sunconnex to lease land in UPLB for a commercial solar power plant was discussed in the BOR meeting last October 28. While the majority of the BOR gave the go-signal to explore the development of a commercial power plant in LB and to accept proposals from various parties, the proposal of Sunconnex was not approved. There was limited information on the company and the proposal did not include the specific area to be leased in UPLB. In the November meeting, the UP Administration, through the VP for Planning and Development again presented the proposal by Sunconnex as the sole company who submitted a proposal. The Board did not approve the proposal as the information presented was limited (it is not registered in the Philippines , no verified information on its capital, there were no other information outside of those given by the company). The Board then asked that the University announce to the public that UPLB lands may be open for lease to commercial solar power plants and present to the Board the specific area in UPLB that may be leased.
Implementation of BOR decision granting the appeal for tenure of Sarah Raymundo. The May 27, 2010 decision has not been implemented. Prof. Raymundo remains without a teaching position. The Chair again requested the President to secure an item for Prof. Raymundo.
Professor Emeritus nomination for former UPLB Chancellor Wilfredo David. The VP for Academic Affairs again reported that the UPLB Chancellor Velasco reiterated that the CU did not nominate ANY retired faculty for the Emeritus award. I asked for a copy of the criteria for Professor Emeritus adopted by UPLB.
UP Mindanao Chancellor and COA Findings. President Roman reported that the Administration has received a copy of the August 2010 COA findings but have to receive the response of Chancellor Rivero to it.
Clarification requested by a former UPD faculty whose appointment was not renewed after she successfully filed a sexual harassment complaint against the director of her institute. This stemmed from a 2006 case where faculty complainant successfully got a judgment of “less grave acts of sexual harassment” against the Director of her Institute. As the complainant had a temporary appointment, the deliberations of the Institute on her renewal was presided by the same Director as he has filed an appeal on the penalty of six months suspension. Then Faculty Regent Roland Simbulan brought the matter to the BOR and the Board instructed Chancellor Cao to create an independent committee to look into this matter. The complainant, who is now a faculty member in another CU of UP, wrote to me last October 27 requesting for the report of the independent committee. According to the UP Administration, Chancellor Cao has yet to submit the report.
4. 2010 Faculty Regent Selection Results. VPAA Guevara submitted the consolidated results of the Regent Selection
Dr. Ida Dalmacio 764
Dr. Teodoro Mendoza 623
Dr. Catelo 216
Dr. Acorda 74
Abstention 64
Total Votes cast 1741 out of 3582 qualified voters or 49% turnout
Of total votes cast: 1046 or 60% were via manual voting and 695 or 40% were cast via electronic voting
The 1,741 voters’ turnout for the 2010 Faculty Regent Selection Process was lower by 613 votes compared to the 2,354 voters’ turnout in 2008.
5. Start of Selection Process for UP Diliman Chancellor: The term of the UP Diliman Chancellor ends on February 28, 2011. The selection process shall start after the selection of the new UP President on December 1 to allow the new President free hand to constitute the Search Committee. President Roman related that this was the same process observed when she was chosen President in November 2004.
6. Appointments
UP Manila , Dean of College of Nursing Dr. Araceli O. Balabagno
UP Los Banos, Director, Animal and Diary Sciences Cluster Dr. Cesar C. Sevilla
7. UP Budget
The Student Regent shared with the BOR a copy of the “Manifesto of Unity Against Education Budget Cuts And a Challenge for the Next UP President” signed during the General Assembly of Students Councils of the UP System held in Baler, Quezon last October 29-30, 2010 convened and presided by then Student Regent Cori Alessa Co.
President Roman shared the UP Administration’s attendance in the Senate deliberations of the budget of the State Universities and Colleges. She has gathered initial commitments for the following additional allocation:
PGH P150 million
National Science Center P200 million
ERDT P300 million
UP Cebu P 30 million
8. Policy Matters
Change in the title from “Program Coordinators” to “Program Directors” for those In-Charge of the Various Research Program Thrusts/Core Facilities of the Philippine Genome Center
Reintegration of the UP Los Baños’ Agricultural Credit and Cooperatives Institute (ACCI) from the College of Public Affairs to the College of Economics and Management (CEM) and renaming it from ACCI to the Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED)
Reiteration of a Board-Approved Additional 10% discount at the Philippine General Hospital for UP Employees. President Roman invited Dr. Eric Domingo to make a short presentation to the Board regarding this. After his presentation, I put on record that I have a standing motion for reconsideration regarding the removal of Dr. Jose Gonzales as PGH Director which has not been discussed by the Board upon the opinion of VP for Legal Affairs Teodoro Te that such discussion is “sub judice” because Dr. Gonzales has a pending court case against UP on this matter.
9. Proposal of UP Visayas for a “ LOVENature Park , A University Support Facility”. Around 19.6 hectares spread across the 1,222 hectares of the Miag-ao; Iloilo campus is envisioned to be developed into a park “to promote environmental awareness, sustainable protection of land and forest resources in the area and physical fitness while contributing economically to the local area.” The five main components are hiking and biking trail with 8 stations, a campsite, outdoor sports facilities, airsoft ground and a mini-coastal village.” The BOR deferred approval of the proposal upon confirming from the UPV Chancellor that the students, through their elected representatives, have not been consulted in the formulation of the proposal.”
10. UP Cebu as autonomous unit: The day before the BOR meeting, the Staff Regent and I held a consultation meeting with the faculty, staff and students of UP Cebu . I reported on the concerns raised during the consultations.
Financial allocation: I shared with the BOR the letter of Dr. Lawlita Cabahug, a member of the faculty of UP Cebu , who documented the concern raised during the consultation about availability of funds of the new autonomous unit when its administration will be transferred to the Office of the President. President Roman clarified that the University has set aside P50 million for UP Cebu and that she has received a commitment from Senator Serge Osmena for a P30 million allocation for the Lahug campus.
Prof. Roberto Basadre’s tenure: I have raised this concern several times. Prof. Basadre has been recommended for tenure by the various academic units of UP Cebu as early as 2009 as he has fulfilled the requirements for tenure. But as he is a faculty member of the UP Cebu High School , which is going to be restructured to a UP Cebu High School for the Arts, the UP Cebu Dean has opposed the grant of tenure. Prof. Basadre remains a temporary faculty member until May 2011. The question raised is the power of the Dean to overturn the recommendation of the academic units based on administrative reasons. Prof. Basadre and the APFC of UP Cebu have appealed to the Chancellor to grant the faculty member tenure.
For information
Copies of the appointment papers of the three newly-appointed Regents were shared during the meeting:
Elizabeth Siguion-Reyna: appointed vice Nelia T. Gonzales, for the unexpired term up to March 5, 2012.
Magdaleno B. Albarracin , Jr.: appointed vice Francis N. Chua, for the unexpired term up to February 18, 2012.
Reynato S. Puno: vice Abraham F. Sarmiento, for a term expiring on September 30, 2012.
12. The Board confirmed the “Resolution of Support for the University of the Philippines Faculty of Law, Declaring Its Adherence to Academic Integrity and Intellectual Honesty and Asking the Supreme Court to Withdraw Its Show Cause Order Against the Thirty-Seven (37) Members of the UP Law Faculty”. As it was adopted in principle in the October 28 meeting of the Board and ratified by referendum, the resolution was confirmed by the Board with Regent Puno abstaining.
Postscript: The three Sectoral Regents joined the November 26 UP Cebu protest against the budget cut which was held simultaneously with the UP Diliman and UP Manila's second day of protest.
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