Next UP Diliman chancellor chosen today

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines Board of Regents (UP BOR) will convene today to select the next chancellor of the university’s flagship campus in Diliman, Quezon City.

The regents will choose between former UP Diliman chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, who is vying for a second term, and his challengers, archaeology professor Victor Paz and UP College of Law dean Edgardo Carlo Vistan II.

Nemenzo, a mathematics professor, was first appointed as chancellor in 2020. His first term expired last March 1.

He previously served in numerous academic and administrative capacities, including vice chancellor for research and development. He was a nominee for UP president last year, but eventually lost to lawyer Angelo Jimenez.

Meanwhile, Paz served as director of the university’s Archaeological Studies Program, now UP School of Archaeology, from 2002 to 2012.

Vistan was appointed UP law dean in 2021. He also heads the UP Law Center and concurrently serves as director of the UP Office of Legal Aid.

Initially set on April 27, the selection of the next UP Diliman chancellor was moved to an earlier date, reportedly due to the unavailability of some regents during that date.

In a joint statement on Saturday, the faculty regent Carl Marc Ramota, student regent Siegfred Severino and staff regent Victoria Canape Belegal said they decided to support Nemenzo’s bid for a second term.

Nemenzo, they said, has the characteristics that they are looking for the academic leader of UP Diliman: someone who will “embrace and practice UP's traditions and principles of excellence, dignity and democratic governance; promote the interest and welfare of sectors and the rank-and-file; defend academic freedom and human rights; and stand up for UP's character and goals as a the national university.”

They said another regent, Raul Pagdanganan, has expressed his support for Nemenzo.

UP president Jimenez co-chairs the UP BOR with Commission on Higher Education chairman J. Prospero de Vera III.

Other members of the board include Sen. Francis Escudero, chair of the Senate committee on higher, technical and vocational education; Baguio Rep. Mark Go, chair of the House committee on higher and technical education; alumni regent Reynaldo Laserna and Palace appointees Gregorio Pastorfide and Gladys Tiongco.