Arroyo signs new UP Charter into law

Arroyo signs new UP Charter into law
By Paolo Romero
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

 

CEBU CITY – President Arroyo signed into law yesterday the University of the Philippines (UP) Charter of 2008 giving the country’s premier learning institution greater autonomy and fresh funds to enhance its “capability to fulfill its mission and spread the benefits of knowledge to our people.”

 

In signing Republic Act 9500, Mrs. Arroyo said she recognized the importance of instilling “new ways of thinking on our students which they will use to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”

 

“Strengthening the UP Charter now is timely not only because the university turns a hundred years old this year but also because new challenges in the 21st century call for new ways of thinking and new approaches to modern situations,” the President said in her speech keynoting the event held at the UP campus here.

 

The new charter:

 

• Declares UP a national university and as such should perform its unique and distinctive leadership in higher education and learning;

 

• Recognizes UP as a university system and thus acknowledges the role of the chancellors as administrative leaders, and of the university council as the highest policy governing body in each constituent university;

 

• Exempts UP employees from the Salary Standardization Law;

 

• Gives UP more flexibility in the development of its assets; and

 

• Affirms the use of democratic access and governance.

 

“All of these are meant to provide institutional autonomy and by doing so, the UP Charter protects students’ democratic access, strengthens the university’s administration through the board of regents, and upholds academic freedom,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

 

Aside from these, she said the new charter provides for the allocation of P500 million to the University of the Philippines to be released over five years.

This extra funding, she pointed out would augment the yearly budget allocated for UP to further develop studies in engineering, research and development.

The President expressed confidence that with the new charter, UP’s another 100-year tradition of “producing the best minds is ensured.”

 

Joining Mrs. Arroyo in the occasion were the main sponsors, co-sponsors and supporters of the bill from both houses of Congress led by Senators Francis Pangilinan, Edgardo Angara, and Miguel Zubiri, and congressmen led by Speaker Prospero Nograles, Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar, and Reps. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz and Jesus Remulla.

 

UP officials led by president Emerlinda Roman and Commission on Higher Education chairman and Board of Regents chairman Romulo Neri were also present at the signing ceremony.