NEWS | Third time’s the charm: Padilla still UPM’s Chancellor
By Angela Vanessa Manuel
During the 1354th meeting of the University of the Philippines Board of Regents (UP BOR) it was officially announced that incumbent Chancellor Carmencita Padilla will serve her third term and remain as UP Manila’s chancellor. Prior to this, students staged an online rally to convey their demands to the Chancellor.
UPM under Padilla
Padilla was the sole candidate for the chancellorship in UPM. In early August, she disclosed her end-of-term report which featured the different milestones in the fields of academics and research, protection of human assets, public service, and COVID-19 response.
Furthermore, Padilla took pride in uniting the UPM community, considering it one of the legacies she is most proud of.
“One thing that I’ve enjoyed in the past three to six years is bringing people together. I came from a time when people were doing things on their own. There was always a disconnect. If I can choose one, to put one upfront again, [it] is the ability to put the people within UP Manila [to] work as one, because that was tough before,” said Padilla
Correspondingly, she vows to continually lead UPM in growing academically and in keeping its competitive advantage with a nurturing environment for enhanced change and innovation.
Among her top priorities for her upcoming term includes empowering and protecting assets for operational excellence and efficiency. She also intends to heighten the University’s public service, sharing that her team will continue their efforts in preparing and protecting the institution from the hazards of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I want UP Manila to be a haven of excellence, scholarship, collegiality, and service. I’d like to be known for protecting the rights of the students, faculty, research extension & professional staff (REPS), and administrative personnel. It will be known for partnerships and professionalized services. It will be an administration that puts people first before personal gains. And we will be a main force in nation building,” Padilla remarked.
Demands for pro-student administration
During the online rally, initiated by the Rise for Education UP Manila (R4E UPM), students pointed out how the Chancellor failed in her past two terms. They reiterated their demands which were also already brought up during the online student consultations, an integral part of the search for the next Chancellor, held last August 13 & 14. The students emphasized that Padilla should protect students’ democratic rights and be steadfast in defending academic freedom.
Among the highlighted concerns were the safe resumption of face-to-face classes as it is the University’s responsibility to ensure that students and faculty alike have access to education. The students suggested that the University can proceed in the face-to-face manner through alternating classes and optional distance learning alongside well-crafted guidelines to implement minimum health standards.
Additionally, the students demand Padilla to be more proactive and pro-student. They emphasized that dialogues between the administration and student councils should be done regularly. The administration should also provide avenues to encourage the practice of student’s democratic rights, which is tied to their struggle for space.
Amidst the rampant violation of human rights in the country, the University should protect its students by upholding the Soto-Enrile Accord and the UP-DND Accord.
“She should recognize, respect, and foster good relationships with the student institutions, the student councils, and the student publications, which represent the largest stakeholders of the campus. The students should be involved in the decision-making for policies that directly affect them,” R4E UPM stated as Padilla enters her third term.
Upon the decision of the BOR, Padilla is set to lead UPM for another three years.
