Nine UP Cebu faculty members say reorganization isn't 'genuine'

CEBU, Philippines – Nine faculty members of the University of the Philippines - Cebu College are opposing some terms in the proposed reorganization of the college, saying the same contradict the ideals of "genuine" reorganization.

Professor Phoebe Zoe Maria Sanchez, one of the signatories of a statement sent to The FREEMAN, said one glaring inconsistency is the removal of some programs.   

"Kung autonomy pa, wala unta'y mawagtang na programs. Karon, naa na pud bag-ong order na himuon na lang four divisions, the Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science. Meaning, wagtangon na ang PED (Professional Education Division)," Sanchez said. The high school is under PED.

In their statement, the faculty members said they are not opposing reorganization per se, "but we demand a genuine autonomy that will provide UP Cebu its own fiscal administration independent of any other office within the UP system."

Aside from Sanchez, the other signatories are Professors Henry Espiritu, Lawlita Cabahug, Atanacio Almocera, Primitivo Ereno, Deo Talao, Robert Basadre, Aurelio Vilbar, and Judy Marie Basadre.

They contended that the reorganizational structure proposed by UP Cebu Dean Enrique Avila does not exactly serve the interests of the UP community in Cebu.

Avila earlier issued an order to stop admitting students to the high school and terminated the UP High School Admission Test (UP HSAT), but the same did not materialize after various protests. Enrollment, however, was streamlined to 35 students from the usual 75.

The faculty members also pointed out the excessive tenure requirements for teachers, which has reportedly gone beyond the standard academic requirements of the UP system.

The standard academic requirements include a master's degree, satisfactory or excellent teaching performance, authorship of an article published in a refereed journal or academic publication by a recognized academic publisher.

These requirements, however, no longer suffice today.

"Pareha sa case ni Professor Robert Basadre, he has been teaching for seven years pero di sya tagaan og tenure while he has complied all standard requirements," Sanchez said. Basadre is at the PED and among the 42 out of 94 faculty members that have no tenure in UP Cebu.

Sanchez said that the lack of security of tenure of teachers are slowly degrading the quality of education of the college because every five years, if teachers fail to comply with the requirements, they had to hire new breed and start all over again.

"Sige lang ta'g hire. Anugon ang experience sa teacher," she said.

The faculty members also argued that Avila's reorganization proposal will not exactly give UP Cebu fiscal autonomy because management of the college is merely to be transferred to UP Diliman from UP Iloilo.

"Among ganahan is fiscal autonomy. We want to be allocated a budget directly from the DBM (Department of Budget and Management). That's the autonomy we are thinking, sa una man gud pirmi ta maawahi because the budget from the DBM goes to the Ilo-ilo first and we just wait kanus-a maka-decide ang Ilo-ilo to give it to us," Sanchez added.

Avila refused to comment, saying he is yet to read the statement of the faculty members. He, however, insisted that the proposal for autonomy is the product of various meetings and consultation since 2006.

As for the fate of UP High, Avila said that they are awaiting the plan of the provincial government who earlier suggested turning the high school into a school for the arts. (THE FREEMAN)