Salvador P. Lopez conference highlights U.P.'s current problems

By Chanda Shahani

A conference on the achievements and times of U.P. President Salvador P. Lopez held on January 19, 2012 at Faculty Center, U.P. Diliman highlighted the current problems now currently being faced by the University of the Philippines (U.P.) System.

The conference, entitled the Salvador P. Lopez Centennial Academic Conference dwelled on several themes which were relevant during S.P. Lopez's term of office as U.P. President from 1969 to 1975, and which have applicability to the situation facing the U.P. System even today.

U.P. President Pascual makes comparisons between his term and that of of former President Lopez

Speaking at the conference, U.P. President Alfredo E. Pascual said that his term began in 2010 as the 20th U.P. President. He said that the challenges facing former President Lopez were vastly different compared to today's job of managing a university system which, "as massive as U.P. is, is never easy."

He said that the idea of a U.P. System was originally conceptualized by S.P. Lopez in 1969 and that it was meant to be one overarching entity made up of organized but separate entities.

He said that the four pillars referred to by S.P. Lopez in running a university were still valid today. He said these four pillars were:

• Accessibility
• Democratization
• Relevance
• Autonomy

He said that the inspiration for creating a U.P. System was inspired by the University of California System with its flagship campus being U.C. Berkeley, which was roughly analogous to U.P. Diliman.

Pascual said the U.P. System was trying to develop linkages with various UC units, and that he was already in discussion with UC Berkeley's Health Sciences System wherein they are trying to develop a joint research institute with U.P.

He said that his administration faced challenges "unheard of in the time of S.P. Lopez." He pointed out that the U.P. System was made up of seven (7) constituent universities and one (1) autonomous college

Pascual narrated that the U.P. System itself "was tsked to ensure that all autonomous units develop to maximum completion." He pointed out that the differeent U.P. units were in different stages of development, with U.P. Manila, Diliman and Los Baños being the most favored.

He said that the overall vision was to equalize the standards throughout the U.P. System. Consequentially, and as a symbolic move, he said that since the graduates of the different constituent universities should be of the same caliber, that U.P.'s plan was to remove the name of the constituent universities from all of U.P.'s diplomas as a "symbolic move."

Unifying standards and quality assurance

President Pascual said that it was imprtant for U.P. to ensure a system-wide implementation of quality assurance. However, potential problems existed with the autonomy of U.P. units which "is an issue that is fraught with danger," he said.

He said the existence of different university councils among the different U.P. constituent unversities compounded the problem of standards. "There is no formal system at the system level at unifying reforms, for example, of the General Education Program," he said, adding that the value of general education is seen in conferences on education that he has attended all over Asia.

To unify the actions of the U.P. System, you must rely on the oneness of vision among its officials, he said.

He said that he would invoke Article 50 of the U.P. Code which gives the U.P. President the blanket discretion to modify any resolution of any body of the university in order to ensure that any collegial decisions made by lower-ranking bodies were consistent with U.P.'s overall vision.

U.P. Diliman Chancellor Caesar Saloma highlights UPD's problems

Speaking also at the conference, U.P. Diliman Chancellor Caesar saloma said that UPD has 136 degree programs offering the Ph.D. degree but only 73 Ph.D. graduates are produced by UPD every year. In other words, there are more programs than there are graduates. He traced this to the iffy quality of mentoring now in place in UPD and said this has to improve.

Chancellor Saloma said that U.P. Diliman has 1535 faculty members, but that only 528 or 36% of them had Ph.D.'s Of the existing Ph.D. holders, 46% of them were 56 years old and above; meaning that close to half were nearing retirement age.

The bottom-line is that there is a shortage of Ph.D.'s now in the UPD faculty, and aggressive measures will have to be undertaken to improve these numbers in order for UPD to remain a leading educational institution in the country.

He also said the Philippine population had increased by 20 million from 1999 to 2010, which resultd in more pressures being put on U.P. to provide more services, but without a corresponding increase in budget. He said that U.P. thus had a potent argument to increase government subsidies given the huge impact of population pressures on U.P, to provide more services.

Open forum, a former Faculty Regent questions U.P.'s policy on Corporatization

During the open forum with President Pascual, former Faculty Regent Judy M. Taguiwalo agreed with President Pascual that U.P. was on the right track to continue ensuring academic excellence, democratic governance and academic freedom.

However, Professor Taguiwalo expressed concern with U.P.'s policy of increasing "corporatization," which played into the hands of neoliberal advocates who wanted public universities such as U.P. to be subjected to market forces rather than as universities with a public character. She asked how the U.P. President would address this concern.

Answering Professor Taguiwalo's question, President Pascual said that U.P., did not have professionals among its administrators, unlike some other universities. He said all the supervisors of the university were derived from the faculty; and this helped ensure the university's public character.

President Pascual said that he came from the enviornment of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) where the faculty there were jealous of safeguarding their role in running the affairs of the institute; rather thanletting professional managers call the shots.

But President Pascual was firm in advocating what he said was a global trend of increasing corporatization that U.P. could not escape. He said that U.P. should instead strive "to create its own brand" of corporatization with the overall consensus of its faculty.

U.P. President highlights significant issues in U.P.'s financing

By Chanda Shahani

There is a worldwide trend that points to declining support by governments for education; and the University of the Philippines (U.P.) System needs to take concerte steps to address this reality in the Philippines, said U.P. President Alfredo E. Pascual.

Speaking on January 19, 2012 at the Salvador P. Lopez Centennial Academic Conference held at Faculty Center, U.P. Diliman, Pascual said that while U.P. needs to intensify its campaign for more subsidy from the national government, there were other steps that U.P. must and should implement to bolster its finances.

These are:

• Develop U.P.'s land grant and other properties, such as the U.P.-AyalaLand technohub located along Comonwealth Avenue in Diliman Quezon City. Pascual said that since the U.p. Charter of 2008 (R.A. 9500) said that all U.P.'s land grants were for the use of the national university; the revenue derived from leasingout U.p. lands to Ayala Land, Inc., were meant for the entire national university, and not just U.P. Diliman alone. The same concept would apply to other U.P. lands outside U.P. Diliman. Any revenues derived from such would go towards the funds of the U.P. System which were held collectively, he said. He said the reason for this was that the level of endowmenets varied across constituent units; depending on accident and history, not design.
• With regards to Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) or "pork barrel" initiatives of congress, he said that that at least PhP 6.2 billion were allocated to U.P. in previous General Appropriations Acts (GAA) in Congress, but were not fully released to U.P. It was time that U.P., reclaimed these lost funds, he said.
• He said that grants, endowmenets and scholarships should be coordinated through common fund raising efforts in order to maximize targets.
• General alumni support needed to be tapped, he said. A spirit of giving among the alumni needed to be strenghtned, Pascual said.
• Overhead costs needed to be brought down even further. One way that this could be done was to foster the development of the e-U.P. software and hardware system where both payrolls and procurement needs across the U.P. System could be consolidated for greater economies of scale and efficiencies.
• He also said that U.P. had to find ays and means to maximize trust funds and earnings and thus pool resources under the control of one individual system. "It's better to have one portfolio in order to diversify risks and maximize returns," he said. He said that U.P. could easilyt double its earnings from its combined trust and other funds which totalled about PhP 10 billion.
• He also said that U.P. needed to start harnessing the provisions of the U.P. Charter where it should take advantage of the fact that it was zero VAT rated. This means that U.P. does not have to pay 12% Value Added Tax in such diverse expenses such as electricity and purchase of construction materials or services.

"U.P. is not immune to the problems of other higher institutions," Pascual said, adding that "The annual amounts given by the government to U.P. are not enough for U.P. to develop and grow."

A rebuttal to Prof. Solita Monsod's "Kicked out on trumped-up charges"

By Phoebe Zoe Maria U. Sanchez

The Reader’s Advocate
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dear Madam/Sir:

In her article, “Kicked out on trumped-up charges,” published in the September 17 issue of the Inquirer, UP Diliman professor and Inquirer columnist Solita Collas-Monsod made gross misrepresentations and baseless assertions, bordering on malice.

I do not only disagree with her irresponsible opinion which for the most part seemed to merely echo the defense legal brief. As one of the original teacher-complainants against Dr. Enrique Avila, defendant in UP ADT Case No. 2011-01, I also question Collas-Monsod’s integrity in accusing us and other UP officials of making trumped-up charges against Avila.

By her accusation, Collas-Monsod is implying that: our witnesses lied under oath, we fabricated our evidence, and UP officials ignored the basic tenets of due process despite the possibility of judicial review.

According to her, “the guilty verdicts were handed down by an Administrative Disciplinary Tribunal (ADT) after only four days of hearings, one of which was devoted to procedural matters.” This is misleading.

The contextual fact is, on March 17, 2011, a complaint sworn under oath was filed against Avila, Ernesto Pineda and Alsidry Sharif by seven teachers and two workers of UP Cebu (two teachers joined later in the amended complaint). On March 30, both parties were heard during a preliminary investigation hearing. Nearly two months later, on May 26, probable cause was found on six of the 11 charges in the complaint.

None of the six charges that were elevated to the ADT relate to the following issues that Collas-Monsod speculated on in her column as having to do with Avila and Pineda’s dismissal from service: the planned closure of UP High School Cebu, removal of student representation in the college’s executive committee, streamlining and rationalizing of course offerings and curricula, changing the campus security guards, among others.

On May 30, the respondents were served notice of their 90-day preventive suspension. The administrative tribunal marathon hearings were held on July 13-15, which was scheduled for almost the entire working hours of each day. This covered procedural matters, presentation of prosecution witnesses to attest to the veracity of their judicial affidavits, cross-examination by the defense, and examination of physical evidence. On July 26, another hearing was scheduled, this time in UP Manila where Avila and Pineda were supposed to present their witnesses who were based in Manila.

The entire process followed faithfully the spirit and letter of our administrative disciplinary procedures, specifically the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (URACCS) – for a “speedy, fair and judicious disposition of cases.” Notably, no categorical objections were raised by Avila and Pineda’s defense counsel on most procedural matters, and they even manifested from the start that they too reject dilatory tactics. Yet they also asked the Court of Appeals to issue a Temporary Restraining Order to stop the administrative disciplinary process – to no avail.

On August 31, about a month after the termination of the hearings and formal investigation (even past the 15-day period prescribed by the URACCS), the ADT found Avila guilty of gross neglect of duty and Pineda guilty of grave misconduct. They were found to have violated rules and regulations in the disposition of University property when they granted, without compensation to UP, a request by a private condominium developer to use a portion of UP property as temporary facility site and to dump excavated construction soil at the campus football field; that with unusual dispatch Pineda recommended approval, Sharif favorably endorsed and Avila approved the request, all in three days!

Avila was also found guilty of grave misconduct, this time for appointing an unqualified person (Pineda, who is only a lecturer/consultant at UP Cebu) in a Bids and Awards Committee of the college, in violation of Sec. 11 of R.A. 9184. Also, he was found guilty of gross neglect of duty for using tuition increment in paying for personnel bonus. Pineda was likewise found guilty of gross neglect of duty for purchasing materials and causing the repair of two buildings in the college without public bidding and through the shopping (reimbursement) method sans sufficient justification.

Thus, contrary to Collas-Monsod’s claims, Avila and Pineda were kicked out not “for doing their jobs too well” (to use her words). They were kicked out in the regular course of the administrative disciplinary process that found them guilty of those specific charges which already form part of the records of this case and which, curiously, Collas-Monsod seemed to have deliberately missed out in her column.

Collas-Monsod wrote that aside from plowing through documents provided by Avila and Pineda, she also talked to university colleagues in Diliman and in Cebu. Whom did she talk to in UP Cebu? I challenge her to name her sources, or at least to identify them by affiliation.

I also challenge Collas-Monsod to come to UP Cebu and spend some time to look at the physical (object) evidence, examine our case documents, and immerse with the UP Cebu faculty, staff and students. She should not simply rely on the say-so of accessible or tainted sources – like Avila’s former underling Prof. Raymund Fernandez. From the start of this issue, Fernandez has been unethically and shamelessly using his column space in Cebu Daily News (an Inquirer affiliate) to defend Avila, without disclosing to his readers the underlying personal and professional interests he has in the outcome of this case.

Thank you very much.


Yours sincerely,

Prof. Phoebe Zoe Maria U. Sanchez
Assistant Professor 7
Social Sciences Division
University of the Philippines Cebu

University of the Philippines President reveals two-pronged strategy to cement U.P.'s status as First among Equals

By Chanda Shahani

University of the Philippines (U.P.) President Alfredo E. Pascual revealed yesterday a two-pronged strategy to cement U.P.'s status as the country's premier university during his investiture speech during rites held on September 15, 2011 at the University Theater at U.P., Diliman.

Pascual said that academic excellence and operational excellence were the two main strategies that would bring back to its customary role as first among equals of other Philippine universities

He said that academic excellence entails developing students, researchers, staff and faculty members into “a pool of responsible and competent leaders who create world-class innovative and practical technologies that can address the problems of the country with food, energy, environment, industrial development, livelihood and employment; who produce creative works that can uplift the spirit of our people and articulate the essence of our culture and national identity; and who conduct exemplary extension services that can transform our communities.”

As regards operational excellence, Pascual said that it is achievable only through administrative efficiency and financial sustainability, the quickest approach of which is to put in place “an integrated information and communication system that will tie our units together into one UP.”

Recognizing the need to have decision-making based on accurate and real-time information, he said that UP will soon launch the e-UP which will interconnect and harmonize ICT systems and infrastructure across all UP campuses.

Pascual explained that U.P., would only succeed with “the support staff, alumni, students and with the grace of God.” He added that while U.P. was once a great center of learning in Asia, “comparative surveys now show that U.P.'s preeminent position has failed.”

“U.P.'s path of greatness lies not just in the past but beyond,” he said, adding that U.P.'s role in national development was critical in helping to tackle problems which have resisted solutions for decades. “The magnitude is daunting.”

The remaking of U.P. as a great university can only be achieved with the collective labor of everybody involved, he said. “There is one U.P., seven (7) constituent universities and one autonomous college – but still One U.P.,” he said.

That One U.P. is actually enormous. Pascual said that the entire U.P. System is made up of 5000 faculty, 50,000 students , 10,000 staff and 260,000 alumni.

As the country's only national university, U.P. has to lead the country to national development and global competitiveness, he said. U.P.'s academic excellence were critical in solving the problems besetting the country, he said and called for students, researchers, and faculty to be combined into a pool of operational excellence.

Pascual identified mission critical areas for research for U.P. and the nation in the areas of food, energy, industrial development, livelihood, and creative works (national cultures and extension services).

Speaking amidst applause from a mostly U.P. audience, Pascual reminded them that U.P.'s track record of excellence remained: with 37 national scientists out of 39 being from U.P.; and with having 20 centers of academic excellence as certified by the Commission on Higher Education and Development. He also said that the U.P. faculty had the most number of publications in international and refereed publications

“But we can do more,” Pascual said. He said that he wanted to see more Iskos or Iskolar ng Bayans “regardless of economic status.”

“We need to review the U.P. College Admissions test (UPCAT) and the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) as well as improve scholarship programs,” he said. Pascual also tacitly acknowledged the seminal speech on the diminishing character of the University of the Philippines given on June 25, 2010 by former Faculty Regent Judy M. Taguiwalo at U.P. Diliman when he stressed that U.P. needed to take more steps “to improve the public character of the university.”

To buttress his point, Pascual said that U.P.'s general education program has to be improved so that ethics, civics, public and national concerns were included. It was also necessary to “give the students a global orientation,” he said. U.P. must also expose students to the basic tenets of entrepreneurship through business enterprises,” he added.

Amidst applause from the audience, Pascual said that U.P. will also finance advanced studies for junior faculty and provide educational materials. He said that it was important to confer the recognition of professors emeriti only from among the most outstanding professors in their fields.

Referring indirectly to U.P.'s inadequate budgetary allocation as submitted by the Department of Budget and Management to Congress, Pascual said that government support for U.P. should “not be regarded as an expense but as an investment that yields copious dividends for the country and the people.”

“Education should be accessible to the people and this is not because we have as reputation to protect, but because we have a country he said,” to warm applause from the audience.

In terms of strategic initiatives the land assets of U.P. needed to be maximized in a optimal manner, he said. There needs to be a proper appreciation of all properties and a master development plan for resource generation for the entire U.P. System is being worked on,” he said.

He also referred to the issue of intellectual property as the BOR has approved the revised UP intellectual property rights policy.

On the issue of raising resources independent of the budget from the national government, Pascual said the process of bringing a viable research finding from the laboratory to the market needs acceleration so that U.P. can better be able to generate resources to fulfill is mandate.

Pascual, a former Alumni Regent on U.P.'s Board of regents, said “there will be a seamless partnership between U.P. and the U.P. Alumni network in the service of the university. He said that the Univesity of the Philippines Charter of 2008 (R.A. 9500) granted 150% tax deductibility to donations to U.P., and “this can be considered a material inducement to prospective donors.”

Stressing the need for higher state subsidy, Pascual stressed, “Government financial support for UP is not an expense, but an investment that will yield copious dividends for our country and people.”

“We must continue to demand increases in state subsidy for (the University of the Philippines), increases in the pay of our faculty and staff, and the upgrading of our facilities deserving of a national university,” he said.

He said that the UP community will not waver in the efforts “to restore UP to its preeminent status in the world of higher education and to ensure that the education it offers is accessible to the least of our people.”

“As the national university, UP must lead our country toward true national development and global competitiveness while nurturing the spirit of our nationhood,” he said.

Another project is the Green UP which aims, among others, “to make…campuses environment-friendly while saving on the cost of utilities, such as electricity and water.”

 Describing the ideal that would lead to the formation of young minds from the bellows and forges of a U.P. experience, Pascual quoted from Murray Bartlett, the first U.P. President and an American, who stressed on December 20, 1911 that:

"The atmosphere of this place must be filled with those great ideals that throughout the pages of history have been the true cause of greatness of men and nations. The real wealth of the country is not to be found in its material resources, but in the strength and courage of its manhood and the purity of its womanhood. The university must be a training ground for the development of character. Our alma mater is not to breed aristocrats, but unselfish workers for the common good."

In his speech, the U.P. President also quoted from Jose P. Rizal's "Letter to the Women of Malolos," written on February 22, 1899, where Rizal urged the women of Malolos to: 

"Awaken and prepare the mind of the child for every good and desirable idea – love for honor, sincere and firm character, clear mind, clean conduct, noble action, love for one’s fellow men, respect for God – teach this to your children. And because life is full of sorrows and perils, fortify their character against any difficulty, strengthen their hearts against any danger. The country should not expect honor and prosperity so long as the education of the children is defective, so long as the women who raise the children are enslaved and ignorant. Nothing can be drunk in a turbid and bitter spring. No sweet fruit can be picked from a sour seed"

 

Drawing the analogy between the past and the present, the U.P. President went on to praise such U.P. Diliman graduates as John Gabriel Pelias, who has had the highest grade point average of U.P. Diliman summa cum laude graduates and who went on to serve his country by returning to U.P. to teach. He also praised the 2011 Miss Universe beauty contestant, U.P. Diliman graduate Shamcey Supsup who graduated magna cum laude and who topped the architectural board exams. He called her a combination of "brains and beauty."

Pascual said that U.P. students' ingenuity were at the forefront of their being able to maximize their learning experiences at U.P. despite antiquated facilities and a lack of resources.

(Chanda Shahani is the editor of the Diliman Diary. He has an A.B. Comparative Literature degree from U.P Diliman and a Master in Entrepreneurship (M.E.) degree from the Asian Institute of Management. He is also a former business page reporter of the Philippine STAR).

UP MOA sets tone for new UP satellite campus at Bonifacio Global City

UP Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) sets the tone for new UP satellite campus at Bonifacio Global City.

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Philippines Bases Conversion and Development Authority - News

UP Cebu Dean Avila at Dalawa pang Opisyal, Pinatawan ng Preventive Suspension

(Editor's note: This statement was sent to us via Up Kilos Na:  Pahayag ng All UP Workers Alliance sa inilabas na preventive suspension kay UP Cebu Dean Avila at dalawa pang opisyal.)

IPAGDIWANG ANG TAGUMPAY NG SAMA-SAMANG PAGKILOS! NAPATAWAN NA SA WAKAS NG PREVENTIVE SUSPENSION SI DEKANO AVILA NG UP CEBU! Pahayag ng All UP Workers Alliance Dulot ng determinado at matatag na pagkilos at panawagan ng iba't ibang sektor ng UP Cebu at s...uporta mula sa buong UP System ay umaksyon na ang Administrasyon kaugnay ng mga kasong grave misconduct at gross neglect of duty laban sa ilang opisyal ng UP Cebu. Nitong nakaraang Mayo 26, 2011 ay pinatawan sa wakas ng preventive suspension sina Dekano Enrique M. Avila ng UP Cebu, Alsidry Sharif (Acting Budget Officer ng UP Cebu) at Ernesto Pineda (lecturer at consultant ng UP Cebu).

Malaking tagumpay na ito at sapat na dahilan upang magdiwang sa ibinunga ng sama-samang pagkilos. Gayumpaman, hindi dapat kakalimutang may nakasampa pa ring kaso ng libelo ni Dekano Avila laban sa sampung guro at empleyado ng UP Cebu dahil sa pagbubunyag nila ng mga ebidensya ng mga iregularidad at korupsyon ng kanyang administrasyon. Kasama sa mga kinasuhan ang mga pangulong lokal ng All UP Academic Employees Union at ng All UP Workers Union. Sa kanilang paglalantad ng mga nasabing katiwalian ay masinop nilang nabigyan ng dokumentasyon at patunay ang iba't ibang instansya ng pagsisinungaling, opresyon, malalang pagpapabaya sa tungkulin at iba pang mga aksyong may negatibong naidudulot sa serbisyong pampubliko nina Dekano Avila, Sharif at Pineda. Mahaba ang listahan ng mga grabe nilang paglabag sa mga regulasyon Unibersidad at mga batas hinggil sa wastong etika at kondukta ng mga publikong opisyal. Masasabing may tuwirang pananagutan si Dekano Avila sa karamihan ng mga katiwaliang ito samantalang may command responsibility naman siya sa lahat ng mga ito. Ito ang naging batayan ng Administrasyon ng UP sa pagsasampa ng administratibong kaso laban kina Dekano Avila. Pero hindi pa nagtapos doon ang kasuhan. Pagkaraan lamang ng ilang linggo ng pagsasamapa ng kasong libelo ay kinasuhan naman ng perjury ni Alsidry Sharif ang anim na pintor (mga manggagawang job order) dahil sa paggawa nila ng mga affidavit na tumetestigo sa kanyang pangingikil sa kanila ng tig-isang daan kaugnay daw ng pag-renew ng kanilang mga kontrata. Patuloy pa ring nakabitin ang usaping ito.

Maliban sa mga kasong ito ay mabigat na nakabinbing usapin ang tenure ni Prop. Roberto C. Basadre. Noon pang Nobyembre 25, 2010, nirekomenda ng UPV Academic Personnel and Fellowships Committee (AcPFC) ang pagbibigay ng tenure kay Prop. Basadre ng UP Cebu Professional Education Division (PED). Natugunan na ni Prop. Basadre ang lahat ng requirement upang magawaran ng tenure kasama na ang publikasyon sa isang refereed journal. Gayumpama'y arbitraryo at labag sa prosesong hinarang ito ni Dekano Avila. Kakabit ito ng unilateral na plano ni Avila na lusawin ang UP Cebu High School kahit hindi pa napagdedesisyunan ang usaping ito ng BOR. Labis-labis na paglabag ito sa mga karapatan ni Prop. Basadre sa wasto, malinaw at walang diskriminasyong proseso ng pagkonsidera ng kanyang tenure. Lalo pang nangangailangan ng maagap na pagtugon ang usaping ito sapagkat nagtapos na ang temporary appointment ni Prop. Basadre nitong Mayo 31, 2011.

Patuloy na usapin din kaugnay ng prinsipyo ng demokratisasyon ng pamamalakad ng Unibersidad na nakapaloob sa UP Charter ang arbitraryong pagkakait ni Dekano Avila sa mga mag-aaral ang kanilang representasyon sa Executive Committee (Execom). Ginawa niya ito kahit ganito na ang kalakaran bago humiwalay bilang autonomous na kolehiyo ang UP Cebu. Mula noong pumutok ang usapin ng tiwaling pamumuno ni Dekano Avila sa UP Cebu ay matiyagang naghintay at nag-antabay ang mga apektadong sektor ng UP Cebu at ang lahat ng nagmamalasakit ng naaangkop na tugon mula kay Presidente Pascual. Malaking bagay na natanggal na sa pwesto kahit pansamantala lamang sina Dekano Avila upang maiwasan na ang patuloy nilang pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan at panggigipit sa mga naglalantad ng kanilang mga katiwalian. Ngunit kailangang manatiling mapagmatyag sapagkat ang ginawang Dekanong OIC ng Cebu na si Richelita Galapate ay dating bahagi ng Administrasyong Avila at kailangan pa niyang patunayan ang kanyang kakayahang magdesisyon sa paraang makatarungan at matuwid. Malinaw na malinaw ang mga ebidensya at malinaw na rin ang dapat maging aksyon. Huwag nang magpatumik-tumpik pa! Patalsikin na agad sina Dekano Avila, Sharif at Pineda!

U.P. President Alfredo E. Pascual preventively suspends U.P. Cebu Dean Enrique Avila, U.P. Diliman and Cebu MBA Professor Ernesto P. Pineda and Budget Officer Alsidy Sharif

This dispatch has just been uploaded and was sourced from the Facebook page of U.P. Kilos Na:

“Sa wakas, pagkatapos ng mahigit na tatlong buwan, inilabas na ni Pangulong Pascual ang desisyon kaugnay ng isyu sa UP Cebu:" Dean Enrique Avila, Sharif and Pineda are served their preventive suspension from office effective May 26 - Aug 24 for further investigation under the admin. tribunal case number 2011-001 for gross negligence, grave misconduct, and gross neglect of duty."

The administration of U.P. President Alfredo E. Pascual has acted on a complaint originally filed last March 1, 2011 by the students, faculty, and staff of the University of the Philippines-Cebu College (UP Cebu) who filed a petition to UP President Alfredo E.Pascual and the UP Board of Regents demanding the resignation of UP Cebu Dean, Dr.Enrique Avila, Budget Officer Alsidy Sharif, and Consultant Ernesto Pineda for allegedly conspiring to commit acts in flagrant violation of The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Actor Republic Act No. 3019, The Government Procurement Act or Republic Act No. 9184,and The UP Charter of 2008 or Republic Act No. 9500.

On March 15, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino filed House Resolution 1091, which seeks an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the same allegations versus Avila, Pineda and Sharif.

More information on the background of this case can be obtained here and here and here.

UPDATE:

According to U.P. KIlos Na, aside from the 90-day preventive suspension from office of U.P. Cebu College (UPCC) Dean Enrique Avila, Alsidry Sharif and Ernesto Pienda, UPCC Associate Dean Richelita Galapate has been designated as OIC. More information on this can be obtained from this link at the U.P. website.

New U.P. President promotes green campuses

LOS BANOS, LAGUNA, Mar 21, (PIA) --Newly-installed University of the Philippines (UP) president Alfredo E. Pascual has vowed to transform U.P. colleges nationwide into green campuses by taking a lead role in national concerns related to forestry and environment conservation.

The new UP president head said his administration will follow a policy of good democratic governance that subscribes to collegiality, transparency and accountability.

Pascual also emphasized the need to operate as one in the U.P. system and work with synergy and to interact and collaborate with each other.

The UP president, who assumed office on February 10, recently visited the University of the Philippines-Los Banos, Laguna and interacted with UPLB officials and attended a forum organized by the students.
Pacual met with UPLB officials led by Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco and asked to inform him of what UPLB needs and its aspirations so his administration can be relevant. He referred to himself as a chief academic officer to emphasize his presidency as a management team and not as a single person.

On the initiatives that can be pursued at UPLB, Pascual said UPLB can take a lead role in national concerns that are related to forestry and conservation, citing the Makiling Forest Reserve (MFR) that can be used as an outdoor facility for natural resources, outdoor recreation and education.

The MFR could be a center for biodiversity research in the region, and to do this, facilities must be established to make full use of the MFR, Pascual added. (Alan C. Ortillano, PIA-Laguna)

U.P. Integrated School alumni are questioning the basic premises for tearing down U.P.I.S. to give way to yet another Ayala mall.

By Chanda Shahani

Alumni of the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) are planning to petition U.P. President Alfredo E. Pascual for an audience and a possible public hearing to validate how carefully studied the plan to transfer UPIS to the current Narra Residence Hall in U.P. Diliman was; considering that the deal brokered by the past Roman administration and approved by a majority of the Board of Regents in favor of AyalaLand, Inc. had no public hearing which was in violation of U.P.'s own charter (R.A. 9500).
 
According to two Facebook pages made up of UPIS alumni, "Goodbye U.P. High" and "Let's Go to the Mall," many questions remained unanswered and so far there has been no sufficient dialogue yet with the new U.P. administration, headed by U.P. President Alfredo E. Pascual.

Rowena Bernardo, a UPIS alumni and founder of "Let's Go to the Mall," posted in "Goodbye U.P. High,"

"Dear Fellow Alumni -This is a small update on planned petition to Pascual for a public hearing on the UPIS deal. "

"We have a group represented by Conyap Longid who is making a position paper for a dialogue with Pascual."

"The position paper will be ready on April 1st. The petition though independently launched will have to look into the arguments of the position paper as well as all points gathered from different parties including any and all points that you would like to point out here"

"In essence, I believe that the decision on UPIS does not only affect UPIS but UP as a whole and a conscious query on where we are veering our education. I have enclosed here a link of a UK based online petition website as an example of the functionalities that the online petition I aspire to launch shortly after April 1."

Another UPIS alumnus,Eugene Lirio Tecson, said "I am from Batch 1992, a senior researcher (CSI & CPDRI) a rural development worker (CSI), a political scientist/political economist, and an international studies graduate student from UP Diliman and I would like to share my position, despite the very limited factual information that I have on the issue."

"I am against the transfer of the UPIS school building not because I am sentimental about it but because of the wrong reasons for which it is being transferred. From what I've gathered, the main arguments for the transfer of UPIS is: 1. To generate income for the UP System from the lease payment from Ayala Corp. and 2. To address the safety of the high school students from having to cross a much wider Katipunan Avenue. For me, these reasons are not sufficient grounds to transfer UPIS."

"UPIS as part of a national university should never resort to rely on private investments to sustain its operations. Since it is a national university, a status that is even higher than a state university, the national government is duty bound to provide public investments to sustain its operations. If UP is now considering the entry of private investments, as it already had, then it might as well be fully privatized. One should distinguish the implications of private funds from the UPIS alumni and the private funds that come from private corporations. Funds from alumni associations are donations meant to improve UPIS and have no strings attached or conditionalities. On the other hand, funds coming from private corporations would necessarily have conditionalities since they are profit and competition-driven. That is why these corporations need to set up infrastructure where they can do business during the period that they are leasing the UP property."

"The safety of the students is a flimsier reason. While I don't have a background in architecture/engineering/construction. I can only imagine that it would cost more to build new school buildings than build overpasses to address the safety of the students."

"As a concerned alumni member of UPIS, this is where I am coming from. These ideas do not necessarily represent the ideas of my other batchmates in Batch 1992 but I am hoping we can still debate from a scholarly and scientific standpoint on the merits of the proposed transfer of UPIS."

Meantime, here is a brief summary of the details of the proposed takeover by AyalaLand, Inc. of the current UPIS site along Katipunan Avenue according to "Goodbye U.P. High":

• The transfer of UPIS to the unused Narra Residence Hall  was an unsolicited proposal made by AyalaLand, Inc. to former U.P. President. Emerlinda R. Roman. The Board of Regents rejected it at first because it was not subjected to public bidding.
• The concept and transfer was eventually approved during the very last BOR meeting attended by then President Roman. 
• The new UP President Alfredo E. Pascual has ordered a review of the agreement: Just like the Ayala Tecno-hub in Commonwealth Avenue, the arrangement is a 50 year lease with guaranteed first option. U.P. only gets a percentage of the gross profit from the mall-BPO-condo complex operations. The initial payment will be PhP 200 million in orderto start the ball rolling. 
• All the other details are nebulous. Even the new principal does not know of the plans or timetable for this project. 

Former President Roman's last BOR meeting as U.P. President was on January 27, 2011 where the AyalaLand, Inc.  proposal was approved by a majority of the BOR with some regents, such as Student Regent Jacque Eroles dissenting on the grounds that there needed to be public hearings on the matter, in accordance with R.A. 9500. Outgoing President Roman subsequently turned over the authority of her office to incoming U.P. President Alfredo E. Pascual on February 10, 2011.

(Chanda Shahani is the editor of the Diliman Diary)

Commentary: A water substation in U.P. Diliman becomes a venue for political art and presents an opportunity to ask some tough questions

By Chanda Shahani

Here are new photographs of the water substation in the University of the Philippines at Diliman campus, which previously showed an "unauthorized organism" flicking its evil tongue out and capturing portions of U.P.'s dwindling revenue streams. Last summer, we took pictures of it to dramatize and highlight financial irregularities going on with respect to the unremitted funds of the University Hotel, as reported by the Commission on Audit (COA) in latest consolidated audited annual report (see: http://diliman-diary.blogspot.com/2010/05/university-of-philippines-at-dilimans.html).

It is not yet clear to us if the new U.P. administration, headed by U.P. President Alfredo E. Pascual has already acted on COA's complaint that the monopolistic revenues of the University Hotel (the only place inside U.P. campus proper where it is possible to get a "legal" bottle of beer at PhP 50.00 a bottle) need to be put under the scrutiny of COA auditors in the interests of financial transparency and good governance. We do intend to follow up on this story for the benefit of our readers.

In the interim, the U.P. Diliman administration has painted over the offending "unauthorized organism" portrayed in urban graffiti or visual art on the water substation referred to in our previous dispatch, but the irrepressible hands of an unknown artist has put in new visual art to dramatize the challenges facing the new U.P. administration (see pictures embedded below).

The pictures show President Benigno S. Aquino III gleefully cutting pencils in two, which symbolizes President Aquino's cutting of the budgets of state universities and colleges last year, including those of the U.P. System.

President Pascual will have to fight hard to obtain ways and means to supplement U.P.'s budget, but it is to be admitted that U.P. has a serious image problem with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) which is in the process of finalizing its 2011 budget call for the entire national government this year. As Budget Secretary Butch Abad has said, DBM reads COA's reports, aside from closely consulting with the affected government departments. Unfortunately, President Aquino, Senate Finance Commitee Chairperson Franklin Drilon and Secretary Abad, who are all high-ranking officials of the Liberal Party have said they believe U.P. has a lot of unused revenues and is awash with cash. Therefore, why increase its budget?

These are the tough questions being asked by President Aquino, et al. and with COA's 2009 CAAR vociferously complaining about the past U.P. administration's inaction with respect to the unreported revenues of the University Hotel, as well as COA's criticism of university-related foundations efffectively declining to open its books to COA, the most visible one being the University of the Philippines Foundation, Inc. -  which is headed by whoever is the sitting U.P. President. COA is calling for university officials to no longer head these foundations and to open their books to COA, so as to preserve the integrity of the university (see: http://diliman-diary.blogspot.com/2010/06/interlocking-directorates-between_20.html). It is no suprise therefore, that the Aquino administration thinks that U.P. has lots of money; but really there is no empirical basis to confirm or deny this until the U.P. Foundation, the University Hotel and other revenue-generating assets of the university allow complete scrutiny of their books, as COA has been insisting for the past six years.

So as U.P. President Pascual inevitably sits down in executive session with DBM officials and both houses of congress this year to discuss why U.P.'s budget needs to be increased as a long-term investment in a brains trust, charged with helping to ensure the long-term viability of the Filipino nation; he needs to have such issues such as the unaudited books of the U.P. Foundation and University Hotel properly addressed beforehand, as DBM officials and legislators are entitled to ask how much money U.P. actually has and what are the case-to-case restrictions on their use before committing public funds for the unaddressed funding gap. This is the only way that a rational decision can be made, employing the best possible baseline data beforehand.

(Photos by Chanda Shahani)

Patuloy na paggigiit sa isang demokratikong pamantasan ng bayan

By Judy M. Taguiwalo

Mahalaga ang BOR meeting kahapon.

Unang BOR meeting ito na ang UP President ay si Alfredo Pascual.

BOR meeting ito para piliin ang bagong Chancellor ng UP Diliman pagkatapos ng anim na taon ng Administrasyong Cao.

Katatapos lang ng USC elections. Naroon ang outgoing USC Chair Rainier Sindayen at incoming USC Chair Gem Garcia

Katatapos lang ng General Assembly ng All UP Workers Union UP Diliman chapter at naroon ang bagong halal na Council.

Nakasked ang unang dialogue ng National Executive Board ng All UP Academic Employees Union kay Faculty Regent Ida Dalmacio noong hapong iyon kaya naroon ang National President ng acad union.

Naroon ang mga taga UPLB para patuloy na ipaglaban ang di makatarungang ginagawa kay Freddie Sembrano, ang pangulo ng All UP Workers Union, UPLB chapter.

Bagama't may ilang nagulat kung bakit nagrali pa sa Quezon Hall kung tapos na ang Roman Empire, makikita sa mga placards at marinig sa mga naging talumpati ang patuloy na pagtindig ng mga organisasyon ng kawani, faculty, REPS , estudyante, manininda at komundad ang pangangailangan para sa pagpapatatag pa ng pagkakaisa para maisulong ang isang UP na may demokratikong pamamahala, abot kaya para sa mga estudyante, may pagkalinga sa maralita at tumitindig sa mga isyung pambayan.

Dumating si Dean Roland Tolentino bago ang botohan at nagpahayag nang kanyang patuloy na pagtindig para sa demokratikong pamantasang bayan, mapili mang Chancellor o hindi.

Si President Pascual ang bumaba para ianunsyo ang resulta ng pamimili ng BOR sa bagong Chancellor--si Dean Ceasar Saloma ng College of Science. Kinilala ng mga nasa ibaba ng Quezon Hall ang gesture ng pagharap ng UP President sa kanila para iulat ang resulta ng pamimili. Ipinahayag ng mga taga Rights of Untenured UP Faculty kay Pres. Pascual ang kanilang pagkakainip sa pagpapatupad sa desisyon ng BOR na mabigyan na ng tenure si Sarah Raymundo.

Ibinalita ng Staff Regent na binigyan ng authority si President Pascual ng BOR para maagang marelease ang first rice subsidy--ang kahilingan ng All UP Workers Union para makakuha ng bigas habang di pa tumataas ang presyo nito. Iniulat niya ring inumpisahan na ng bagong Administrasyon ang pag-aaral sa kahilingang additional 10 days leave para sa mga kawani at REPS dahil hindi nag-iwan ng computation ang nakaraang administrasyon kung gaano kalaki ang budget allocation na kailangan para rito.

Ipinaabot ng Student Regent na ipaiimbestiga ng UP President ang kahilingan ng UP Cebu community na alisin na sa pwesto si Dean Avila bunga ng sunud-sunod na paglabag nito sa demokratikong pamamahala.

Bagama't marami ang nalungkot na hindi si Dean Tolentino ang napiling Chancellor ng UP Diliman, hindi tumamlay ang programa. Nagwakas ito sa mga kantang "Awit ng Pag-asa" at "UP Naming Mahal" na militante at madamdaming inawit nang mga naroroon.

Tuloy ang laban para sa demokratikong pamantasan ng sambayanan.

Tuloy ang ating sama-samang pagkilos

(Judy M. Taguiwalo is the former University of the Philippines Faculty Regent. She is currently a professor of the College of Social Work and Community Development at U.P. Diliman)

UP President Alfredo Pascual with friends of Leonard Co at the fund raising dinner of the Justice for Leonardo Co Movement

(Editor's note: The following series of videos were taken at the lugawan fund raising dinner of the Justice for Leonardo Co Movement headed by AGHAM Nasyunal, PNPCSI, KALIKASAN, CEC, AGHAM Youth and Health Action for Human Rights. UP Balay Kalinaw, Feb. 24, 2011, U.P. Diliman. Source: arkibongbayan2006 at http://www.youtube.com)


Video 1 - UP President Alfredo Pascual at the fund raising dinner of the Justice for Leonardo Co Movement



Video 2 - Lian Seng Co, father of Leonard Co at the fund raising dinner of the Justice for Leonardo Co Movement



Video 3 - Glenda Co, widow of Leonard Co, at the fund raising dinner of the Justice for Leonardo Co Movement



Video 4 - Dean Rolando Tolentino at fund raising dinner of Justice for Leonard Co Movement

Video No. 5 - Wokie and Jun at fund raising dinner of Justice for Leonardo Co Movement

U.P. Mindanao Student Council: Dialogue with U.P. President Alfredo Pascual

Last February 14, in his third day in office, UP President Alfredo E. Pascual visited UP Mindanao. His day was filled with sectoral consultations and each sector was only alloted one hour. With the time constraint, we only had the chance to raise the very urgent issues.

Note: These are not the actual words and statements from the dialogue. These are just interpretations from the notes of the secretariat.

Pres. Pascual: This is my third day in office. This is my second unit to visit, my first was in UP Manila. I have visited UP Mindanao last year for a BOR Meeting but I didn’t have the chance to look around the campus because it was a quick trip. (He then reiterates his vision statement for the students: Provide affordable education, prepare them for a successful career and responsible citizenship)

PE Laboratory Fees

Rey (USC Vice Chairperson): The PE laboratory fees is not only a concern of our unit but of all UP students because it will be applied system-wide. It should be scrapped because we should acknowledge the fact that there was already a 300% TOFI back in 2006. In UP Mindanao, there was no proper consultation done and despite this, the DHK still pushes for the collection of the fees. We think that these PE lab fees should be scrapped.

Pres. Pascual: The government still subsidizes 85% of your education. I am aware that this is a system-wide issue. Tuition fee increase is not a default solution. I will look into this issue.

Cherry (CSM SC Secretary): In addition, it is to be noted that last year, only 40% of the population in UP Mindanao were respondents of the survey whether or not to charge PE lab fees. This is not acceptable for it should be a minimum of 50% + 1. I’d also like to ask about the COA’s findings on Chancellor Rivero’s investiture. It took four years to clarify this issue.

COA Report regarding Chancellor Rivero’s 2007 Investiture

Pres. Pascual: I am not aware of what the BOR has come up with because my last BOR meeting was back in August 2010. But we will follow the recommended actions of the COA.

Krista (USC Chairperson): We have already written the BOR back in September 2010 and the constituents were assuming that former President Roman would do an action regarding her case. We also wrote the BOR again on January 2011 so that before President Roman steps down, she would do something about it. But as we have seen, it was not even included in the January BOR meeting. Can we have your commitment regarding this matter? (Hands a copy of the COA findings to the president)

Pres. Pascual: This is my first copy. I will look into the minutes of the BOR meetings (September 2010 to January 2011) and implement COA’s recommendations.

OJT Miscellaneous Fees

Anjel (CSM SC Biology Rep): The OJT miscellaneous fees (energy fee, library fee and internet fee) are inappropriate for students that do not undergo the OJT program.

Pres. Pascual: Then students who do not undergo OJT should not be charged with these fees.

Cherry (CSM SC Secretary): (Reiterates previous speaker’s point) Students with OJT cannot even use the facilities in the campus since they are having their OJT outside the school.

Pres. Pascual: In principle, OJT fees should not be charged from students who do not have OJT. I will ask the administration regarding this matter. I am concerned with the students who are academically excellent but cannot continue their education because of financial constraints.

Pres. Pascual: (Asked the STFAP brackets of the students; asked on “drop out” cases and asked if the fees are paid in full regardless of the problem. He also inquired if there is discounted fee for STFAP scholars. He found out that the miscellaneous fee is fixed regardless of the STFAP bracket.)

How do you see UP Mindanao six years from now?

Emcee: (Reads from a written question) How do you see UP Mindanao six years from now?

Pres. Pascual: I envision that UP Mindanao will provide trained graduates, provide leadership in the profession, address research problems in Mindanao, and address national concerns. However, I am aware that resources are needed to realize the mandate - to be excellent and relevant to this country.

Campus Militarization

Rendell (LFS): We have two issues we want to raise. First, in UP Mindanao, the camp of the Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG) is present in the campus. Not only is this a concern of our unit, but also of the other regional units. According to the Sotto-Enrile accord, a military camp should be 500 meter radius away from a campus. Its presence endangers the lives of the constituents. What can we expect from your administration? Second, students are restricted from using the CHSS AVR and Lorenzo Hall for forums and other activities. As of now, we cannot use the Kalimudan since it’s not conducive for these kinds of activities.

Pres. Pascual: Military entities should not be allowed in the campus. We have to enforce the tradition to keep our campuses free from the presence of military and police. It places a lot of responsibility to the students to keep peace in the campus. In other campuses, military personnel are in the campus because of ROTC.

Use of Facilities for Student Activities

Pres. Pascual: Why is the Kalimudan inappropriate for such activities?

Rendell (LFS): It houses the canteen and the tambayans, but it has no room to hold activities like seminars and forums.

Pres. Pascual: I will visit the Kalimudan and discuss this with the Chancellor why there are restrictions. The Chancellor does the implementation of rules in the unit while my role is to check the policies.

Departmentalization of the Architecture Program

Jeff (ASC): We would like to raise the clamor to departmentalize the Architecture program. We have a 100% passing rate in our department. We really need your support on this one. Other schools already have AutoCAD while here we have to do it manually.

Pres. Pascual: I want to assure you that your faculty is also asking for the departmentalization of your program.

What do you think about the issue regarding the Bt Talong?

Emcee: (Reads from a written question) What can you say about the Bt Eggplant?

Pres. Pascual: The local government was concerned on its effects to the other crops, but I am supportive to our scientists who revealed that the plant has no harmful effect. However, I suggest that proper communication should be done. UP Mindanao should work with the stakeholders.

Constitution of the Student Council and the Autonomy of Student Institutions

Krista (USC Chairperson): The issue of the ratification of our constitution is always brought up by the administration whenever we have big protest actions. Just last week, the OSA Director called me and asked me about this matter. What we don’t understand is the Chancellor herself knows that our constitution is ratified, but she keeps asking for the document. As the new UP President, what can we expect from you in order to protect the autonomy of these student institutions?

Pres. Pascual: Our students have the capacity to govern themselves through these institutions. The Student Council has rights and responsibilities as well. I support the right of these institutions.

Unlimited use to the dance hall

Katrina (Dance Ensemble): We cannot use the dance hall in the late hours of the night because we are only restricted until 7PM. With our concert coming up, the time for practice is not sufficient and we need to extend. We would also like to ask what your opinion is on the promotion of performing arts.

Pres. Pascual: Performing arts are important but the limited access to the dance hall is maybe due to security issues. Then you should use the time appropriately to lower power cost and avoid security risks. I will check on the practice of other campuses. UP Mindanao has its own administration (and wanted to understand the administration's reason for such policy). I don’t run UP Mindanao.

Oblation Run

Nassefh (APO): During the time of Chancellor de Ungria, our organization was able to conduct the Oblation Run. But under Chancellor Rivero, our organization was suspended for doing the activity. This year, we followed the guidelines for conducting an activity, we submitted all the necessary permits required by the OSA and we still don’t have feedback from them.

Pres. Pascual: (Asked for clarifications on the matter)

Nassefh (APO): The org was suspended two years ago because of the Oblation Run.

Pres. Pascual: Is there a written policy that you cannot do the Oblation Run?

APO: None.

Krista (USC Chairperson): I actually talked with some APO members and the OSA. The OSA director explained to me that such activity could be considered a “public disturbance” but we all know that her view is very subjective.

Pres. Pascual: Who among you want an Oblation Run? (Majority raises their hands)

Aleen (APO): We want to hold Oblation Run again but our requests are repeatedly denied by the OSA and were obliged to submit concrete objectives. Our org might be suspended again.

Pres. Pascual: You should ask your other chapters in order to help you justify the activity. You should also clarify with the OSA director the reasons for suspension.

Aleen (APO): Our org’s last Oblation Run was back in 2006 as a sign of protest and we got suspended for it.

Demolition of the Main Library

Stella (BA Anthro): We are concerned of the main library’s demolition in order to make way for the construction of the access road. We all know that aside from books, the library houses other equipment.

Pres. Pascual: I am aware of the issue. The old main library was not designed to be the main library of UP Mindanao under the Campus Development Plan. Under the Plan, the construction of the University Avenue would entail the removal of a part of the old main library. The new main library will be situated at the back of the admin building. The real issue is the communication problem between the librarian and the Vice Chancellor for Administration. The demolition of the library is a short-term sacrifice.

Cherry (CSM SC Secretary): What will happen to the books during the construction of the new library?

Pres. Pascual: The books will be transferred temporarily to a building or room while construction is ongoing.

Informal Settlers

Cherry (CSM SC Secretary): The settlers in the campus are also part of the UP community. What are your plans with this sector?

Pres. Pascual: We will do what is proper with the informal settlers. We have to consider the place and their livelihood.

Rendell (LFS): Can we invite some of them to talk you about their problem?

Pres. Pascual: Now is not the right time. And it’s the responsibility of the university administrators.

Pres. Pascual: “Don't ever think that you are the only one concerned with issues on laws and policies – these are also national and university concerns...”

(Source: http://www.facebook.com/notes/up-mindanao-university-student-council/dialogue-with-up-president-alfredo-pascual/146936242034545)

Vigilance on the New U.P. Administration

By SAKBAYAN

Samahan ng Kabataan para sa Bayan (SAKBAYAN), the widest alliance of student organizations in the University of the Philippines, extends its warm congratulations to former alumni regent Alfredo Pascual for being selected as the next UP president by a majority vote of the Board of Regents (BOR).

The alliance is optimistic that Pascual will deliver significant changes in the University which has since endured President Emerlinda Roman’s six years of autocratic rule.

We have several reasons to believe that Pascual can potentially lead UP back to its proper course as a public service university.

During his brief stint as the alumni regent, Pascual has consistently shown his pro-student stance on several important issues. We remember how Pascual voted to retain former student regent Charisse Bernardine Bañez’ position in the BOR. Alongside other sectoral regents, he did not attend the BOR meeting during which a proposal to increase laboratory fees and to impose PE fees were set to be approved. More importantly, he has supported the students’ condemnation of the P1.39-M budget cuts on UP and has ever since joined us in asserting for higher state subsidy.

Pascual’s vision statement for the university somewhat coincides with SAKBAYAN’s own vision of a scientific, nationalist and mass-oriented UP education. He strongly emphasizes UP’s “role in the educational, cultural, social and economic development of the country” and defines academic excellence in the context of “addressing societal problems.”

It is refreshing to hear Pascual’s assurance that tuition will not increase during his term. He vows to keep tuition affordable for “qualified students from the mass of our people” and that UP education must be democratized in such a way that the composition of the UP studentry becomes proportioned with the socioeconomic distribution of the Philippine population.

There is much to expect from Pascual but we must not cede our next six years solely unto him. We must remain vigilant and commit ourselves into helping the president-elect by reminding him how he should best lead us. We must continuously assert for our right to student consultation and academic freedom.

Our experiences under Roman’s administration as well as the momentum set forth by President Noynoy Aquino’s abandonment of education have reawakened the militant tradition of the Iskolar ng Bayan. Pascual’s presidency is not his sole doing—it is a victory forged by this upsurge.

The students’ fight against budget cuts, tuition hikes, dorm fee increases, the implementation of large lecture class policy and various forms of commercialization of education and campus repression is the measuring stick by which we assess how Pascual will remain true to his vision of a “great university.”

Our vote of confidence is still founded upon UP’s tradition of serving the people—nothing more, nothing less.

(Source: Facebook page of UP Kilos Na)

20th U.P. President reveals vision, while 19th U.P. President defends record during Feb. 10 turnover ceremonies at U.P. Diliman

(Alfredo E. Pascual, U.P.'s 20th President, gives a speech during

turnover ceremonies on Feb. 10, 2011 at Quezon Hall)

By Chanda Shahani

University of the Philippines (U.P.) President Alfredo E. Pascual today asserted his vision as the 20^th U.P. President of the U.P. System for the next six years in a speech during turnover ceremonies today with the 19^th U.P. President, Dr. Emerlinda Roman at Quezon Hall, U.P. Diliman.

Dr. Roman turned over the University Mace to President Pascual in simple ceremonies. She also gave a speech defending her record, and citing her administration's accomplishments. The University Mace is the symbol of the U.P. Presidency.

President Pascual said that under his administration, U.P.'s plans and programs will be guided by the vision statement that accompanied his acceptance of the nomination for the U.P. Presidency and will act as his guide for the next six years (to read Mr. Pascual's vision statement, please click on: http://up.edu.ph/pdf/nominees/AEPascual_Vision_Paper.pdf).

He said that the key points of his vision for U.P. included:  

• U.P. needs to remain relevant to the times. Pascual said that as the national university, U.P. needs to give major importance to the national agenda. Citing U.P.'s historic commitment of service to the Filipino nation, he said U.P. needed to provide a "fertile ground" in which to properly take care of its people in the sciences and the arts. He said it was through innovation that U.P. could become a global player in the 21st century.
• On research. U.P. needed to upgrade its research and development (R&D) capability. R&D will also allow U.P. to contribute to national development by finding innovative solutions to the country's problems and also provide solution to industries. U.P. can introduce technology-based products that can spur job creation, he said. New research findings can be made accessible to the public by communicating them in jargon-free language, he said. He also said that U.P. would protect its researchers' intellectual properties.
• On faculty and staff. In order to recruit the best possible staff, it was necessary for U.P. to have incentives and professional development programs in order to attract the best and the brightest, both from inside and outside U.P. He said that part and parcel of this will be to review U.P.'s compensation system, with a special emphasis on non-cash benefits, such as housing and healthcare. He also said performance-based incentives will be explored.
• On U.P.'s students. While U.P. can only admit the best high school graduates, he said steps needed to be taken to democratize admission. He said that U.P. would work with local political leaders in preparing top high school graduates in the provinces to compete for U.P. admission. 
• In a fast-changing world, U.P. students needed to be trained to be competitive. Curricular reviews will ensure that U.P. students "develop the capacity for critical thinking; for continued learning; and for effectively dealing with ambiguity, complexity and uncertainty."
• Raising tuition fees in undergraduate and research programs would not be U.P.'s default solution, even if it is badly in need of funds. "We shall strengthen our scholarship and financial assistance programs to provide adequate and timely need-based support," he said.
• U.P. students needed to be prepared to assume roles of leadership when they graduate, he said. U.P. would ensure that its curricula and teaching methods respond to those needs. He said the general education program needed to be strengthened so that U.P. students could develop broader perspectives and  a "cross-disciplinary orientation, sound ethical standards, the values of good citizenship and hopefully, a strong bias for serving the country."
• On financial sustainability. He said that under R.A. 9500 which is the U.P. Charter, U.P. can sidestep the Salary Standardization Law and give competitive salaries for its faculty. However, he said that U.P. needed to obtain sufficient cash flow beyond its annual budget. He said that U.P. could build up sizeable endowment funds as well as implement sufficient revenue generating activities.
• On generating funds. President Pascual said that his banking experience showed that good, bankable projects seldom have problems getting funded. He said that correspondingly, U.P. would formulate projects and programs very well in order to attract funders  such as donors, investors or international institutions. He said R.A. 9500 provided up to 150% tax deductibility for donations to U.P. which can help attract donors.
• On government funding. President Pascual said that the strategy for U.P. would be to package itself as a key player in national development in order to build its case with the government for long-term funding commitments.
• The development of idle U.P. properties. President Pascual said that while commercialization of education was not acceptable, the commercialization of U.P.'s assets was needed, as it was a land grant university with 18,000 hectares in idle lands. He said the development of these assets in partnership with the private sector would generate extra revenues for U.P. Pascual said the proper financial controls would be observed in order to ensure the revenues from these assets were not dissipated. Nevertheless, these revenues should not replace the annual appropriations provided by the government and as assured in the U.P. Charter.
• On alumni. President Pascual said the U.P. alumni were an "untapped resource for funds and expertise." He said, "We shall make our alumni feel they are valued members of the U.P.community. Our goal is to promote to our alumni a culture of giving back to the university."
• On efficient administration. Citing the need for U.P. to use its raised funds efficiently, he said that he would make sure that wasteful expenditures were checked, and that administrative processes such as procurement and hiring were expedited. He said that the use of information and communications technology to reduce voluminous paperwork is necessary. He also said there were opportunities for U.P. to save on power bills. Creative use of technology and regular training would help improve things as well, he said.
• Democratic governance. President Pascual promised to "observe the principles of democratic governance based  on collegiality, representation, transparency, predictability, and accountability. In the management of funds and other resources entrusted to the University, responsible stewardship and ethical conduct shall additionally characterize good governance."

"With the faculty, research and administrative staff, students and alumni joining hands with us to move the University forward, I am sure we will make much headway with our vision."

"The Office of the President will keep its communication lines open to the U.P. community. I would love to hear your views, comments and suggestions."

"I now call on my team: let us go to work and lead in this quest making U.P. a great university - the best in the country and one of the best in Asia and the world."

To read the full text of President Pascual's speech, please click on this link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/48736857

(Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman, U.P.'s 19th President, gives a speech 

during turnover ceremonies on Feb. 10, 2011 at Quezon Hall)

Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman, U.P.'s 19th President, cites her accomplishments and defends her record

“Six years ago on this same day, at this exact same spot, I participated in a turnover ceremony. The difference was that I was on the receiving end of the turnover then. At that time, my secret wish on that day was that I would be able to finish my six year term. Today, that wish has been granted, because in a little while, I shall be at the other end, turning over the authority of the office to Fred Pascual,” Dr. Roman said in her turnover speech.

She said that she had been guided by the principles of leadership, academic freedom and service to the university. She also said she had the benefit of advice from 3 U.P. Presidents: Edgardo Angara, Jose Abueva and Francisco Nemenzo.

She said it was her ten 10 point agenda that guided her and her cabinet throughout her six-year term. She also said that she was passing on her end of term report to Mr. Pascual (to read the report, please click on this link: http://up.edu.ph/pdf/endofterm2ed.pdf)

Dr. Roman said her end of term report listed the accomplishments and were a function of the collective leadership of the university for the last 6 years. “I alone would not have been able to do much without them,” she said, adding that she benefitted immensely from the support of regents, chancellors, vice-presidents, directors, staff, faculty students and alumni.

She said that the highlights of her administration's accomplishments were in four areas:

Read the rest here: http://diliman-diary-sidebars.blogspot.com/2011/02/continuation-of-20th-up-president.html

The full text of  Dr. Roman's turnover speech can be accessed from this link: http://www.upd.edu.ph/~cba/docs/ERR%20Valedictory%20Speech.pdf

(Photos by: Chanda Shahani)