UP President Danilo Concepcion Meets with UPOU Officials

Mr. Danilo L. Concepcion, President of the University of the Philippines (UP) system, visited the headquarters of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) in Los Baños, Laguna on 18 October 2021. For the first time since the pandemic broke out, President Concepcion was able to meet with the UPOU officials, and set foot on UP’s “Cyber University” main campus. 

During his brief meeting with the members of the UPOU Chancellor’s Advisory Council (CAC), President Concepcion sought updates regarding  the ongoing infrastructure projects within the university. He also shared his intent to provide UPOU the 73-hectare area of UP land in Clark, Pampanga. He also touched on the need either to fill up or abolish unfilled UP items but he also shared that expansion as a university need not solely depend on existing faculty or staff items. 

President Concepcion shared that he envisions UPOU to be dominant for the next five  years, encouraging the UPOU administration to seize the current opportunity in education. He said that UPOU can add more program offerings such as associate degrees, certificate courses, and skills programs by collaborating with every UP Constituent Unit (CU). He believes that among all UP CUs, UPOU is in the best position and has the highest capacity to train more teachers, graduate more students, and serve more Fiipinos, especially towards recovering from the effects of the pandemic. 

President Concepcion  also encouraged the UPOU administration to train and engage experts and professionals as Professorial Lecturers to accommodate more enrollment. He also advised UPOU to engage foreign experts as lecturers as well, to increase foreign student enrollment.

Lastly, President Concepcion left a challenge to the UPOU administration to benchmark with other open universities around the world. If funds are needed to upgrade or procure technologies, he encouraged UPOU to submit proposals  and he will take care of funding them.

Along with President Concepcion was UP Vice President for Development (OVPD), Elvira A. Zamora. Members of the CAC who were present include Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalaria, Chancellor of UP Open University; Asst. Prof. Ma. Rowena D.R. Raymundo, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Dr. Jean A. Saludadez, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration; Dr. Alexander G. Flor, Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS); Asst. Prof. Rita C. Ramos, University Registrar; Ms. Luisa A. Gelisan, Director of the Multimedia Center. Asst. Prof. Cesar Z. Luna, Head of the UPOU Campus Maintenance and Development Office was also present, as well as other key officials of UPOU. Ms. Agnes, V. Mejia, President of the All UP Workers Union (AUPWU) – UPOU Chapter was also present, while Asst. Prof. Queenie Roxas-Ridulme, President of the All UP Academic Employees Union-Open University (AUPAEU-OU) Chapter, joined the meeting virtually. Other members of the CAC attended the meeting via Zoom. 

Aside from these meetings, President Concepcion also officiated the oath-taking ceremony of the 7th UP Staff Regent, Hon. Victoria Canape Belegal, which was also held at the UPOU headquarters.

Written by Phoebe Apostol and Anna Cañas-Llamas

Edited by Joane V. Serrano