TOWARDS A UNIVERSITY FOR ALL FILIPINOS

By: Prof. Leonor Magtolis Briones

Third Forum on the U.P. Presidency

U.P. Manila

14 October 2010

Introduction

I was nineteen years old when I first entered the university in 1960 as a graduate student of public
administration. That was fifty years ago. After obtaining my master’s degree, I made the long and
tortuous climb from Research Assistant to Full Professor.

I owe much of my life’s education to the University of the Philippines which taught me the most
precious lesson of all: love of country. I learned how to do rigorous research and honed my
teaching skills in the university. I learned the theory and practice of managing public institutions,
including this university. Most of all, I learned that acquired knowledge and wisdom is of little use
unless practiced in the real world, and shared in the service of the people.

With gratitude and humility, I offer a vision distilled from five decades of journeying with the
university as it survived recurring economic and financial crises, political upheavals, dark days of
Martial Law and loss of democratic rights as well as threats to its very survival as the national
university. I offer skills learned in the management of public institutions as Secretary to the
Commission on Audit, Vice-President for Finance and Administration of the University of the
Philippines, and as Treasurer of the Philippines. Moreover, I offer an unwavering loyalty and
commitment to the university and the country, which was forged during the difficult and dangerous
years when I was in hiding during the Martial Law period.

Vision Statement

I envision a University of the Philippines which will retain and strengthen its well-deserved position
as the leading institution of higher learning in the Philippines. I see the university ranked
increasingly higher among Asian universities, as well as in the global community of universities
throughout the world.

The pursuit of academic excellence

UP is the leading institution of higher learning in the country. It has attracted more than 50,000 of
the best and brightest young Filipinos, boasts not only of a competent but also a fiercely loyal
faculty and leads in all fields of learning.

For the past 100 years, UP pursued academic excellence in spite of hostile political environments,
inadequate financial support, and inadequate infrastructure and facilities. Nonetheless, it must forge
forward and continually respond to a rapidly changing economic, social, political and natural
environment.
UP is mandated by its charter to be a graduate university. All of the CUs offer masteral and
doctoral courses, as well as a wide-ranging array of diploma, certificate and training courses, most
often in similar fields. The uneven content and substance of these offerings require regular
assessment in terms of relevance and rigor.

An equally important mandate is for UP to be a research university. The combined research outputs
of the three older CUs—UP Manila, UP Los Baños, UP Diliman and the four younger CUs—UP
Visayas, UP Mindanao, Open University, and UP Baguio—plus the autonomous units—cannot be
matched by any other university in the country

The challenge for UP is not only to lead in applied research; it has to increase the level and
magnitude of its basic research. To be able to attain this requires more research-oriented faculty,
vast amount of resources and up to date facilities.

Serving the country and contributing to national development

The first president of UP, Murray Simpson Bartlett stated in his Inaugural Address that “UP can
serve the world best by serving best the Filipino.” Since then, UP started a long tradition of
community service, provision of expertise and significant contributions to national development. It
has provided a large number of the country’s political leaders, great thinkers, scientists, artists,
critics and dissenters as well.

My vision is that of a university which continues and enriches its mandate of “serving best the
Filipino,” by periodic assessment of these contributions and sharing of technologies and strategies
and techniques among the various CUs.

The UP charter mandates the university to “regularly study the state of the nation in relation to its
quest for national development and give advice and recommendations to Congress and the President
of the Philippines.” My vision is that of a UP which will conduct a comprehensive on a regular
basis which will involve all the CUs.

Responding to changing demands from the national and global community

I envision an agile UP responding to changing demands and expectations. It can contribute

significantly to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. The target date is 2015.
Thus far, the targets on poverty, health—particularly infant and maternal mortality— education,
nutrition and dreaded diseases are at risk.

Beyond MDGs we have the threats of climate change, a looming fiscal crisis, intractable problems
of governance, an economy plagued by unemployment and inequality, and urgent issues of justice
and peace.

During the first two fora, I specifically mentioned UP Los Baños and Diliman in terms of their
enormous capacity for contributing to national development. This time, let us look at UP Manila,
UP Visayas, Open University, UP Mindanao and UP Baguio.

Eight of the nine degree-granting units of UP Manila are directly related to health. As the
Philippines’ health science center, no other health institution in the country can match the
formidable and unbeatable concentration of health professionals, academic programs and research
centers. The College of Arts and Sciences provides perspectives from the humanities and social
science to ensure a balanced professional.

The Philippine General Hospital is a perfect example of a university-based training hospital which
also happens to serve patients from all over the country.

The eleven research centers of the National Institutes of Health exemplify what it means for UP to
be a research university in the service of the people. Research outputs have served as the basis for
important landmarks in health policy, as exemplified by studies on common illnesses,
commercialization of herbal medicinal formulations, and newborn screening. I envision UP Manila
as pioneering in solving health problems developed a consequence of climate change, as well as in
attaining the MDG goals n health.

To celebrate the UP Centennial, UP Manila organized a lecture series on the theme “Strategic
Directions for Health Sector Reforms.” Papers were read by the most distinguished UP alumni in
the field. The wheel does not have to be reinvented. This administration and the succeeding one
can utilize the practical recommendations contained in the papers.

UP Visayas is a major resource for the country in marine biology, fisheries and oceanography.

On the other hand, the Open University makes excellent UP education available to those who
cannot physically attend formal classes in the other CUs.

My vision of UP Mindanao is for it to forge ahead a center of science research in Southern

Mindanao, as well as a Center of Culture and Languages. It will continue to serve the marginalized
and deserving sectors.

Finally, my vision for UP Baguio is to expand its reach as the center of research into arts and
culture in Northern Luzon, as exemplified by its Cordillera Studies Center, its Arts Festivals, and its
strong humanities program.

Financial autonomy for the university

We know that sustainability of financial resources from government cannot be assured. The budget
for UP from the general fund this year is Ph7,230,872,000. The proposed general fund budget for
2011 is Ph5,525,844,000. This is because there is no more provision for capital outlay.

The immediate need of UP is for more funds for MOOE maintenance, operating and other
expenditures. We may have more buildings but if we don’t have funds to repair, maintain and keep
our facilities in working condition, the university will deteriorate and our faculty and staff can’t
deliver services effectively.

As promised during the presidential forum in Diliman, Social Watch Philippines, of which I am the
Lead Convenor, has included a proposal for an additional allocation of Ph1.179 billion for MOOE
and Ph300 million which constitutes the balance of the Centennial Fund provided for in the UP
Charter which remains .unreleased.
The additional MOOE is to complete and start the operation of several buildings of the National
Science Complex (NSC) and the Engineering for Research and Development for Technology
(ERDT) Projects of the College of Engineering.

Furthermore, we are proposing an additional Ph888 million for MOOE of the Philippine General
Hospital which was not originally approved by the DBM.

The challenge is for UP to tap more sources of financing. In addition to the proposals in the
National Expenditure Program, legislators can still provide for additional allocations as long as they
identify the sources of financing.

Properties and resources of the UP can be pooled and developed. New products and projects can be
developed for alumni to tap.

Perhaps this is where my experience in financing public institutions, as well as civil society
organizations can be of much use.

Democratizing access

The biggest economic and social challenge faced by the country is persistent poverty. Even as the
economy grows, poverty grows as well.

The poorest regions, the poorest provinces and the poorest municipalities are in the Visayas and
Mindanao. It is a known fact that a significant number of the poorest Filipinos are from indigenous
people and Muslim communities.

Closing Statement

Academic excellence is a primary pursuit which has to be balanced with service to the country and
responsiveness to its changing demands and expectations. However, it can only be attained with
sustainable financial, material and human resources. Most important of all, the UP must not be a
university only for those who can afford to pay increased tuition fees and the limited number who
can be accommodated through affirmative action.

It has to continually strive to be a University of the Philippines for all Filipinos, especially for the
disadvantaged and the excluded.