Update # 3: On November 19 U.P. Elections for a new U.P. President. Elections Have been postponed by the BOR to Dec. 3, 2010

Two weeks have been given by the University of the Philippines (U.P.) Board of Regents (BOR) to implement a succession process for Student Regent Cori Alessa Co, Faculty Regent Judy M. Taguiwalo said today, according to Twitter updates from Tinig ng Plaridel, the official student publication of the College of Mass Communication of U.P. Diliman.

The new Student regent should already have been installed by the next meeting of the BOR on December 3, which will have in its agenda the selection of the next U.P. President.

“Hopefully, by December 3, we will have a Student Regent on the BOR,” added Staff Regent” Clodualdo “Buboy” Cabrera, saying that with or without a Student Regent, the selection of the next U.P. President is set to happen on December 3, 2010.

Regent Co has endorsed 2nd nominee Jaque Eroles for Student Regent, but this is pending Eroles' late enrollment in the university, so this should have been fixed by December 3, if students are to participate in the selection of the next U.P. President.

Assuming the selection process goes beyond more than one round, there is also a possibility that Faculty Regent Judy M. Taguiwalo may or may not participate in the final voting for a U.P. President. Regent Taguiwalo's term ends by December 31, 2010. The Faculty Regent is selected by votation from faculty from throughout the U.P. System in a process that started on November 17 and ends today.

Update # 2 on November 19 U.P. Elections: Letter of U.P. Baguio University Registrar to President Roman on status of Student Regent Cori Alessa Co

(To enlarge the graphic, just click on it)

(Source: Facebook page of Philippine Collegian: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=712158&id=133443430005987)

Komentaryo: Patuloy na paglaban sa diskriminasyon sa U.P.

Ni All U.P. Workers Union

Hindi naglubay ang ating unyon para labanan ang patuloy na diskriminasyon sa unibersidad. Noong Mayo 27 pa ang desisyon ng BOR na bigyang tenure si Sarah Raymundo; hanggang ngayon wala pa ring tenure!

Noon pang Hunyo 24 inaprubahan ng BOR ang P10 T para sa faculty at P8 T para sa REPS at kawani na sagad. Di pa rin ito ipinatutupad.

Lumilitaw na kahit manalo ang mayorya sa BOR pero tutol si Presidente Roman, hindi niya ipinatutupad ang desisyon. Kaya nga hindi naglubay ang ating unyon sa paggigiit na ipatupad na ang P10t at P8 T sagad at bigyan na ng teaching appointment si Sarah Raymundo. Serye ng protest lunch sa Quezon Hall at jog and walk laban sa diskriminasyon ang inilunsad ng All UP Workers Alliance. Nagdaos pa ng vigil noong Oktubre 27, isang gabi bago ang BOR meeting nitong Oktubre 28.

May panimulang tagumpay na tayong nakamit. Pumayag na rin si Roman sa 10-8 t sagad award. Ang kagyat na implementasyon ay P10t para sa faculty at P6t para sa mga kawani at REPS habang hinahanapan pa ng paraan na mapunuan ang kulang na P4.5 milyon para sa dagdag na 2t para sa mga kawani at REPS. Pag-atras ito sa matagal na posisyon ng Administrasyong Roman na 10t at 6 t lamang ang kayang ibigay!

Siyempre di pa tapos ang ating laban sa diskriminasyon na nasusuma sa "Kung gusto may paraan, kung ayaw may dahilan" na motto ng kasalukuyang administrasyong Roman:

1) ipatupad ang desisyon ng BOR na bigyang tenure si Sarah Raymundo

2) tiyakin na makuha natin ang dagdag na 2t para sa mga sagad na kawani at REPS

3) dagdag na 10 days leave benefits para sa mga kawani at REPS.

Mabuhay ang militante, progresibo at makabayang unyonismo sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas!

Mabuhay ang mga kawani, REPS at guro ng pamantasan!

Source: http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1666689833325&sk=messages#!/album.php?aid=32643&id=107602369270905&fbid=162265357137939

To see the remaining pictures, please click on this link:http://diliman-diary-sidebars.blogspot.com/2010/10/more-pictures-from-komentaryo-patuloy.html

Announcement: U.P. Unions stage lunch protest vs. Roman admin foot-dragging on BOR decision awarding benefits to admin staff and REPS

Editor's note: The All UP Workers Union and the All UP Academic Employees Union held a lunch protest against discrimination in benefits of the Roman Administration last October 11, 2010 at Quezon Hall, U.P. Diliman. The UP Administration has not implemented a June 24, 2010 BOR decision awarding PhP 10 thousand for faculty and PhP 8 thousand for administrative staff and REPS who have reached the SAGAD (ceiling) level in their plantilla items. This is classified as SG 30 for faculty and from SG4 to SG 18 for administrative staff and from SG 10 to SG 24 for REPS.

This is just the opening salvo of a series of protest actions against discriminatory policies of the University.

Here is the statement of the union:

PAHAYAG NG ALL UP WORKERS ALLIANCE

SA PAMUNUAN NG UNIBERSIDAD NG PILIPINAS
Oktubre 11, 2010

Ipinararating namin sa pamunuan ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ang aming karaingan dahil sa patuloy na pag-iral ng DISKRIMINASYON SA AMING MGA KAWANI AT REPS partikular sa mga ipinagkakaloob na benepisyo. Kung mahalaga din kami sa Unibersidad, sana gawing pantay-pantay ang mga benepisyong aming tinatanggap. Kaming mga kawani ng Pamantasan na siyang nakakatanggap ng pinakamababang sahod ang siya pang pinagkakaitan ng dagdag na benepisyo.

(To enlarge the picture, just click on it)

SAGAD AWARD

Noong June 24, 2010 (ika-1,256th na pulong ng BOR), naghain ng mosyon si Pangulong Roman upang pagbotohan na ang halaga ng Sagad Award para sa mga kaguruan at REPS. Ang tindig ng ating kinatawan sa BOR – Staff Regent ay gawing PhP 8,000.00 ang Sagad Award para sa mga kawani at REPS, mas mataas sa halagang inihain ni Pangulong Roman na PhP 6,000.00 lang. Nang manalo sa botohan ang ating kinatawan at matalo si Pangulong Roman, hindi raw ito maipapatutupad sa kadahilanang walang budget. Ano ito lokohan? Totoo nga bang walang budget o sadyang ayaw lang ibigay ang hinihiling ng ating Staff Regent?

Noong August 24, 2010 (ika-1259th na pulong ng BOR, nakapaglaan ng PhP 50 milyong piso (bagama’t 30 milyon lamang ang inaprobahan ng BOR) mula sa U.P. System para sa tinatawag nilang “UP presence in Fort Bonifacio”? Ito ba ang walang pera?

Ang pondo para sa mga kawani at REPS na sagad ay nagkakahalaga lamang ng PhP 4.5 milyong piso kumpara sa PhP 50 milyon na gagastusin sa nabanggit na proyekto ng U.P. Malinaw na kung kagustuhan ng administrasyon, nagagawan nila ng paraan. Subalit kapag ayaw nilang ibigay, kung anu- ano naman ang kanilang dinadahilan.

10 DAYS ADDITIONAL SICK LEAVE

Ipinapanawagan din namin na ipagkaloob na ang 10 days “Equity” leave privilege (na ibinigay sa Faculty) para sa mga kawaning Administratibo at REPS. Hindi namin tinututulan ang pagkakaloob nito sa mga kaguruan sa dahilang totoong kailangan ang benepisyong ito kahit hindi nila hiniling. Ang aming iginigiit ay mabigyan din ng ganitong benepisyo ang mas nangangailangang mga kawani at REPS. Hindi lamang ang mga kaguruan ang nagkakasakit kundi kami ding mga empleyado ng UP kaya nararapat lamang na may pantay-pantay na benepisyo ang lahat na sektor ng Unibersidad.

Kapos na kapos po ang aming sahod kaya napipilitan kaming i-monetize ang aming naipong leave. Ang dagdag na commutable sick leave ay napakalaki ng maitutulong sa aming pagreretiro. Opo tama po ang inyong nabasa, commutable at retroactive ang ipinagkaloob ng dagdag sick leave sa mga kaguruan. Sa katunayan, ayon sa datos na aming nakuha (tingnan ang table 1 sa likod) umabot nang kalahating milyong ang retirement benefit ng isang nagretirong guro sa Unibersidad.

Table 1: Benepisyong nakuha ng mga faculty dahil sa dagdag na 10 days sick leave

(To zoom in on this table, just click on it)

Sa gitna ng laban sa dagdag ring leave para sa mga kawani at REPS, wala man lamang inihahaing counter proposal ang Administrasyon ng Pangulong Roman. Sa halip na pakinggan ang aming hinaing, dinagdagan pa ng 5 araw na leave ang mga kaguruan, samantalang wala pa rin ipinagkakaloob sa mga kawani at REPS. Ang ginagamit na dahilan ng administrasyon ay wala raw leave ang mga kaguruan. Mariin naming pinabubulaanan na walang leave ang mga kaguruan. Tingnan ang datos sa ibaba:

Table 2: Paghahambing sa leave benefits na natanggap ng Faculty, Admin Staff at REPS

(To zoom in on this table, just click on it)

Kaya ang ating mahigpit na panawagan sa Administrasyong Roman:


• IPATUPAD NA ANG BOR DESISYON NOONG JUNE 24, 2010 PARA SA SAGAD AWARD NA P10,000.00 (Faculty) at P8,000.00 (Admin/REPS)


• IPAGKALOOB NA ANG 10 DAYS “EQUITY” LEAVE PRIVILEGES NA IBINIGAY SA FACULTY PARA SA SA MGA KAWANING ADMINISTRATIBO AT REPS

SUMAMA SA MGA SUMUSUNOD NA SKEDYUL NG ATING PAGKILOS:


Oct. 11 at Oct 15 – Solidarity Lunch Against Discrimination
11:00 a.m. Quezon Hall


Oct. 18, 20, 22, 26, 27 – Jog/Walk to Fight Discrimination
4 p.m. Assembly at Quezon Hall


Oct 27 – Vigil at Quezon Hall


Oct 28 – BOR mobilization 8 a.m. Quezon Hall

(Source: Facebook page of All U.P. Workers Union: http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1439709753154&sk=messages#!/album.php?aid=31263&id=107602369270905&fbid=157662307598244)

Ibalik ang Tama Video on Outgoing U.P. Administration's Unilateral Ouster of Dr. Jose Gonzales as U.P. PGH Director

The U.P. Board of Regents turns down Ayala Land, Inc.'s current proposal to take over U.P. Integrated School, favors a development plan first

(Source: Facebook page of No to Ayala Land,

Inc.'s proposal to take over UPIS)

By Chanda Shahani

The University of the Philippines (U.P.) Board of Regents (BOR) has turned down Ayala Land, Inc.'s (ALI) unsolicited proposal to commercialize the U.P. Integrated School (UPIS) along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City in favor of U.P.'s first coming out with a development plan for the UPIS site.

According to Faculty Regent Judy M. Taguiwalo, the BOR met on June 2 and discussed ALI's proposal as part of the agenda. During the meeting, the BOR instructed the UP Administration to come up with a development plan for the current UPIS site and call for a public bidding once this is approved. It turned down the unsolicited proposal of Ayala Land Inc. as not being in the best in the best interests of UP.

The Diliman Diary has previously covered this issue, where it was revealed that U.P. and therefore, the Filipino taxpayer may not necessarily have gotten the best possible deal under ALI's unsolicited proposal (See Diliman Diary, May 28 and May 26, 2010) since market forces or more competition were not given the best chance to operate. Regent Taguiwalo's revelation that the BOR's insistence that there be a development plan first before the private sector is allowed to enter the fray under competitive bidding conditions in the UPIS case effectively creates a precedent for the future development of other properties within the U.P. System.

Under Republic Act 9500 or the University of the Philippines Charter of 2008, U.P. President Emerlinda R. Roman is not only the chief academic officer of the University but also its chief executive officer. As such, it is her administration that will bear the chief responsibility to come out with a workable development plan for UPIS that faitfully follows the spirit and letter of R.A. 9500.

Section 22 of R.A. 9500 (http://tinyurl.com/2wbcmzn), entitled "Land Grants and Other Real Properties of the University" states that:

• Income derived from the development of all land grants and real properties, such as the UPIS property shall be used to further the end of the national university, as may be decided by the BOR;
• The Board may plan, design, approve and/or cause the implementation of land leases: Provided, That such mechanisms and arrangements shall sustain and protect the environment in accordance with law, and be exclusive of the academic core zone of the campuses of the University of the Philippines: Provided, further, that such mechanisms and arrangements shall not conflict with the academic mission of the national university;
• The Board may approve the implementation of joint ventures: Provided, That in the event real properties of the national university are involved, only the income derived by the University from the use of the real properties shall be the subject of its participation or obligation in the joint ventures: Provided, further, That no joint venture shall result in the alienation of the real properties of the national university; and
• Any plan to generate revenues and other sources from land grants and other real properties entrusted to the national university shall be consistent with the academic mission and orientation of the national university as well as protect it from undue influence and control of commercial interests: Provided, That such programs, projects or mechanisms shall be approved by the Board subject to a transparent and democratic process of consultation with the constituents of the national university: Provided, further, That funds generated from such programs, projects or mechanisms shall not be meant to replace, in part or in whole, the annual appropriations provided by the national government to the national university.

A very likely key point person to be tasked by President Roman to participate in the development plan formulation tasked to the U.P. Administration by the BOR is U.P. College of Architecture Assistant Professor Armin B. Sathou, who currently holds the rank of Vice President for Development for the U.P. System.

A detailed interview  given by Vice President Sarthou and posted on the U.P. website, and entitled, "U.P. Forum Roundtable on the University in the next 20 years" (July-August, 2009, http://www.up.edu.ph/upforum.php?i=275&archive=yes&yr=2009&mn=8) gives a glimpse of some of the elements of such a possible development plan. The interview, quoting Sarthou extensively, and given from a trained architect's perspective, shows his point of view, which could be incorporated in the development plan and which the BOR may either adopt, reject or even modify:

• Circulation. The campus, already known for its pleasant and green ambience, will now be characterized by even wider and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and walkways, connecting the different nodes and clusters within the campus, cutting through landscaped lushness, with more defined spaces for reflection and meditation. Vehicular access inside the campus will be limited to those with infirmities, and walking will be the norm. Parking structures will be located at the outer edges of the campus to encourage walking and the use of the public transportation system, which by then will be characterized by electric-powered transport—battery-powered ikot jeepneys drawing their power from solar panels and strategically-located charging centers, or perhaps a well laid-out monorail system conveniently connecting all areas of the campus.
• Housing. Some of the single detached housing developments on campus will have to give way to low-rise (three-storey) residential buildings, in the process eliminating altogether the long waiting lists for faculty and staff housing on campus. The new developments will be less dense than the present walk-ups, and will contain amenities that will enhance the quality of life of its residents, including localized sports and recreation facilities and multi-functional clubhouses. These projects will be made possible either though the University’s own financing and management, or in collaboration with private developers.
• Resource Generation. The University will, with the help of government, the alumni and the private sector, successfully convert hitherto unproductive real estate into resource-generating assets, decreasing dependence upon government subsidy to just under 25%.of its funding requirements. Assets such as the Sierra Madre and Mindanao land grants will by then be fully productive, with agroforest plantations in some portions to fortify University finances, and rich biodiversity in other areas to serve the University’s teaching and research functions. In all CUs, assets closer to campus will be further developed with the construction of more academic buildings and support facilities, housing for faculty, staff and students, and science and technology centers.

(Chanda Shahani is the editor of the Diliman Diary).

Ayala Land, Inc. proposes to take over U.P. Integrated School. Is a "monopsony" in the offing?

In this satellite picture, Narra Residence Hall and U.P.

Integrated School (left and right of Katipunan Avenue) http://tinyurl.com/2uqbmdx

By Chanda Shahani

The University of the Philippines (U.P.) Board of Regents (BOR) meeting scheduled for May 27, 2010 will include an unsolicited proposal by Ayala Land, Inc. to lease the current U.P. Integrated School (UPIS) site for "commercial and academic purposes" and to transfer UPIS to the current location of the former Narra Residence Hall.

This according to an email message sent on May 26, 2010 to this writer by U.P. Faculty Regent Judy M. Taguiwalo. The UPIS property is located along Katipunan Avenue while Narra Residence Hall is located inside the U.P. campus proper. Narra was already abandoned in October of 2007 due to its deteriorating condition before a fire hit its east wing in January of 2008.

If the BOR favourably entertains Ayala Land, Inc.'s unsolicited proposal without giving competing parties a fair chance to bid for the same project, then U.P., which is a government entity, is setting itself up to be in open violation yet again of current Philippine government practices for unsolicited bid proposals which allow for a "Swiss Challenge" to take place. U.P. will also be on the fast track to granting Ayala Land, Inc., a virtual "monopsony" to commercialize choice U.P. System properties which would allow Ayala to dictate its own terms to U.P.'s and therefore the taxpayer's disadvantage, creating a buyer's market or an auction with Ayala as the sole participant.

Under the Swiss Challenge system as it is practised in the Philippines, the government grants the original project proponent a predefined advantage through a point system in a competitive bidding process. This allows third parties to make better offers or "challenges." The original proponent then has the right to match a superior offer (http://tinyurl.com/3yow9r8).

Executives from Ayala Land Inc. headed by ALI Chairman
Fernando Zobel de Ayala together with the UP BOR Chair
Emmanuel Angeles and UP President Emerlinda Roman at
the U.P.-Ayala Land Technohub http://www.ayalaland.com/

One prominent example of  a successful Swiss Challenge was the original proposal for the construction of a third terminal in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport which was proposed by Asia's Emerging Dragon Corporation (AEDP). AEDP eventually lost the bid to PairCargo and its partner Fraport AG of Germany, who went on to begin construction of the terminal under the administration of former President Joseph Estrada in 1998; although President Gloria M. Arroyo later ordered the contract scuttled for being "onerous" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninoy_Aquino_International_Airport).

But it is the U.P. Administration's constant choice of Ayala as a partner in developing its vast tracts of real estate properties that has lead observers to say that Ayala is now enjoying a virtual "monopsony" in its dealings with the entire U.P. System, leading to fears that U.P. may not be able to wrangle the best possible deal if it had a variety of competitors to choose from.

In economics, a monopsony is a market form in which only one buyer faces many sellers. It is an example of imperfect competition, similar to a monopoly, in which only one seller faces many buyers. As the only purchaser of a good or service, the "monopsonist" may dictate terms to its suppliers in the same manner that a monopolist controls the market for its buyers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopsony).

Ayala's stranglehold over U.P. in terms of the number of projects it already is implementing with the premier state university may grant it unwarranted clout with the U.P. Administration, as U.P. technocrats bend over backwards to grant this real estate developer even more accomodations.

For example, the Ayala Foundation, Inc. currently manages and runs the U.P. Ayala Technopark which comprises 5 hectares. According to the U.P. System website (http://www.up.edu.ph/upforum.php?i=109), U.P. and Ayala Foundation, Inc. grossed PhP 3 million from 2001 to 2004 which essentially amounts to a gross income (before profit sharing with Ayala Foundation, Inc.) of a mere two pesos or PhP 2.00 per square meter per year. U.P. only gets 60% of the gross income under this arrangement.

U.P. also leases out  the 37.5 hectare North Science and Technology Park, located along Commonwealth Avenue in Diliman where the U.P.-Ayala Land Technohub is located. U.P. also signed a memorandum of agreement last April, 2010 by and between the U.P. Visayas Cebu College (UPVCC) and the Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI) to establish the U.P. Visayas Cebu College (UPVCC) Technology Business Incubator (TBI) (http://www.up.edu.ph/upnewsletter.php?i=777).

The TBI facility will boost the creation of new high technology businesses and industries, while providing an environment where scientists, engineers, faculty members, technology innovators, along the same lines that the Ayala Foundation operates the U.P. Ayala Technopark in Diliman. It could also bethe tip of the spear for future Ayala Land, Inc. development of other vast tracts of U.P. properties in the Visayas and Mindanao, leading to a virtual "monopsony" for one corporation, without diversifying and allowing for other proposals to enter the fray, allowing U.P. to pick and choose which are the most advantageous to the University.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has previously criticized the U.P. Administration for its lack of transparency in a contract signed on June 18, 2009, for the UP PGH Faculty Medical Arts Building (FMAB) Project by President Emerlinda Roman and Dr. Edwin Mercado, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Daniel Mercado Medical Center (DMMC) to privatize portions of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and to construct the FMAB.

In a legal opinion the DOJ said RA 9500 or the University of the Philippine Charter of 2008 requires that any large plan to commercial U.P. assets must protect U.P. "from undue influence and control of commercial interests" and that it should be "approved by the Board subject to a transparent and democratic process of consultation with the constituents of the national university."

Recent protests by the Laban PGH movement, which is made up of U.P. College of Medicine Faculty, staff and students indicate that there was not enough -  if any - consultation for the FMAB project as it is currently defined in the final signed contract. Critics say that the project, while beneficial in some respects, would nevertheless still hurt the essential constituents of U.P. PGH, who are the disadvantaged poor, by siphoning away much-needed income needed by PGH for its programs and benefitting DMMC instead (Please see Diliman Diary, March 3, 2010 at http://tinyurl.com/24kp34e).

In the case of UPIS, the satellite picture embedded above would show that UPIS would be giving up much more real estate than it would receive in return (the former Narra Residence Hall). Additionally, RA 9500 would require that there be a transparent and democratic process of consultation which would also require asking if U.P.'s and therefore the taxpayer's interests are being adequately served if enters into yet another binding contract with Ayala Land, Inc., in order to avoid creating a situation best described by the word, "monopsony."

(Chanda Shahani is the editor of the Diliman Diary).