REPORT (OCTOBER 2014)

Submitted to the 1302nd Board of Regents Meeting

30 October 2014

Investiture of UP Diliman Chancellor and Turn-over Ceremony of UP Manila and UP Los

Baos Chancellor
Last 17 October 2014, UP Diliman Chancellor, Dr. Michael Lim Tan was affirmed and
invested as the 10th to hold the post in the flagship unit of the university. Together with
other university officials, SR Neill John Macuha graced the event. In addition, SR Macuha
also attended the turn-over ceremonies of the UP Manila and UP Los Baos Chancellors
held on 29 October 2014.
With this, the OSR extends its utmost congratulations to UP Diliman Chancellor, new UP
Manila Chancellor Dr. Carmencita David-Padilla, and new UP Los Baos Chancellor Dr.
Fernando Sanchez Jr. The Office looks forward to working with the new heads of the three
Constituent Units, and hopes that they shall practice a consultative and democratic
governance. The OSR also looks forward that abovementioned administrators to be
responsive to the need of the students and other sectors of their respective units.
Updates on the UP Agenda and List of General Demands
As reported on the 1301st meeting of the Board of Regents, the OSR is now crafting a
comprehensive list of student demands to be lobbied to different levels of the UP
administration. To note, the UPLB Student Agenda and List of General Demands (SAGD) is
now done courtesy of the UPLB University Student Council. Meanwhile, the UP Manila
University Student Council reported that they were now on the final stages of crafting their
own SAGD. The OSR hopes to collate the same for other units of the university and shall
present an initial draft as soon as possible.
Update on the Board Fees Charged by UP Diliman Dormitories
Last 1 October 2014, the UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Neil Martial
Santillan, together with Office of Student Housing OIC Dr. Shirley Guevarra and other
concerned administrators called for a meeting with the residents of Kalayaan Residence
Hall (Kalay) to clarify the issue on the 65-peso board fee increase circulating within the
dormitory. The said event was also attended by SR Macuha.
In the said meeting, Dr. Guevarra clarified that while she consulted the parents of the Kalay
residents about the increase since no concessionaires would like to bid at the current 85peso rate, there is no formal proposal submitted to the OVCSA nor the Office of the
Chancellor. She also said that the OSH are now taking extra steps to get a willing food firm

to provide food service to Kalay, Molave, and Ilang-ilang Residence Halls. She also noted
that Chancellor Tan specifically instructed her that there should not be any increases in
fees collected from students residing in any housing units of the
During the said dialogue, SR Macuha promised to share to the BOR the clarifications
presented by VC Santillan and Dr. Guevarra. In addition, he hopes to work together with
Dr. Guevarra in suggesting steps to improve the welfare of students in dormitories in the
university.
Urgent Dormitory Issue on UP Los Baos
During the UPLB Student Summit, officers of the Alliance of Dormitory Associations raised
to SR Macuha concerns about the apparent closure of three of the residence halls in the
university: ATI-NTC Dormitory, Forestry Residence Hall (FOREHA), and New Forestry
Residence Hall (New FOREHA). According to them, approximately 450 students shall be
displaced if the said dormitories will be closed this coming Second Semester due to
renovations.
Should the said concern be true, it is very inexcusable to hear that the outgoing UPLB
Administration shall prioritize renovations over the welfare of students staying at housing
units of the university, regardless of the merit that the said dorms need refurbishing.
Searching for a place to stay outside the university premises, at the middle of the academic
year is very improbable, not to mention that dorms outside charge higher fees than in
UPLB. To note, dormitories in UPLB charge one of the highest rates for student housing
throughout the system. Simply put, it would be a complete disservice to those that would
be affected.
During the oath taking of Chancellor Fernando Sanchez Jr., SR Macuha already raised the
issue to him through the help of President Pascual. According to him, he is open to work
the said renovations in different phases so that fewer students shall be displaced from
their current dwelling place. The OSR is therefore grateful that his administration would
take appropriate steps once he assumes office on 1 November 2014. In addition, the
Office urges the UP Administration and the honorable members of this Board to take
appropriate steps in increasing the absorptive capacity of dormitories in the whole system.
On the Current State of the UPLB Perspective and other Student Publications in Different
Units
During the same summit, writers from the UPLB Perspective raised to the attention of SR
Macuha the current state of the once functional student publication. According to them,
the slow processes of procurement in the university hinders the efficient operations of the
UPLB Perspective. Inability to release a single copy since 2009 (except once during 2011,
and another yesterday), the case has dragged on much to the dismay of past and present
UPLB students. In order to uphold the mandate of providing information to students, they
have resorted to online news instead. Other student publications in the system also
experience the same due to various reasons, while some units do not have any up to the
present time.
Student publications have been a source of alternative information in different units. In
addition, they have produced several known journalists, and other personalities in
Philippine society. With this, the OSR urges that the UP Administration to help the student

publications to uphold their mandate of informing the students of what is happening in

and out of the university. In addition, the OSR hopes that the principle of Campus Press
Freedom could be upheld by the administration.
Case of Nine UP Manila Students
Vice Chancellor for Administration Jose Lapea filed a case against nine UP Manila
Students in relation to the mobilization of students regarding the eviction of the GAB
Cafeteria. The said case was only known by students when requests by the OSR Chief of
Staff and former UP Manila USC Chair, Ms. Maryliz Zubiri, and incumbent UP Manila CAS
SC Chair, Mr. Rodel Cahiyang for a certification of a good moral character, were denied
due to the case. However, up to the present time, the UP Manila Administration has failed
to provide details of the case to the students involved.
The said mobilization was pushed through 27 February 2014. During the rally, VC Lapea
went to the protest area but denied the request of students to engage in a dialogue. On 2
March 2014, the UP Manila Administration proceeded with the eviction. For more details
of the case and the circumstances that it went through please see the attached statement
from the UP Manila Concerned Students for Justice and Peace, and the statement of the
Faculty Members of the Political Science Program of the unit.
This is a clear violation of the rights of the students to due process. Also this is a clear form
of harassment being done to them by the outgoing UP Manila Administration. The motive
for filing a case is not only questionable but also malicious. First, the case filed by VC
Lapea to the UP System Administration is dubious since the same has no capacity to
convene a student tribunal. Referred to UP Diliman SDT, the body also has no jurisdiction
over the students concerned since they come from a different unit of the university. The
students were well within their rights to protest the eviction of the concessionaires of their
cafeteria, especially that food services outside are more expensive than what the GAB
Cafeteria usually charges. The OSR hopes that the new administration of Chancellor
Carmencita David-Padilla, the System Administation and the honorable members of this
Board to act upon the injustice being brought to our students.
For the students and the people,

NEILL JOHN G. MACUHA

Student Regent