Author: Offices of the Sectoral Regents Secretariat UP System

𝘕𝘪 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘭 𝘉. 𝘙𝘰𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘻

Katuwang ang Opisina ng Rehente ng Kaguruan ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP) sa programa nitong Ugnayan (Usapang Pamantasan at Bayan), isinagawa ng All UP Academic Employees Union ang regular nitong Ikot Unyon sa iba’t ibang constituent university ng UP. Sa pamamagitan ng bukas na talakayan at pagbabahagi ng mga guro at REPS sa iba’t ibang CUs, nalikom ang ilan sa mahahalagang usapin at hamon na kinakaharap ng mga guro at REPS sa pamantasan sa kasalukuyan.

Mahalaga ang mga talang ito sa patuloy na pagdokumento ng OFR at ng unyon sa maiigting na usaping paulit-ulit na inihahain ng mga empleyado ng unibersidad sapagkat kalimitan ay walang kongkretong tugon sa mga usaping ito. Narito ang nalikom na mga usaping marapat pagtuunan ng pansin ng administrasyon upang mabigyang-solusyon ang mga ito sa lalong madaling panahon:

𝟭. 𝗞𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀

Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, nananatiling pinakamalaking suliranin ng Unibersidad pagdating sa employment ang kakulangan ng items kapwa sa kaguruan at mga REPS. Ang karaniwang paraan ng administrasyon upang kagyat itong tugunan ay mas malaan ng mga posisyong lecturer, teaching fellows at teaching asssistants para punan ang kakulangan ng mga guro sa iba’t ibang CUs. Samantala, nananatiling malaking porsiyento ng ating REPS sa buong UP System ay mga kontraktuwal at job order ang istatus na employment.

𝟮. 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱, 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱

Dahil sa kakulangan ng mga plantilla items, madalas ang mga pagkakataon na sinasalo ng mga guro at REPS ang mga pangangailangan ng units sa pagtuturo, pananaliksik hanggang sa administratibong gawain. Hindi sapat ang ratio ng mga guro at REPS sa sinersebisyuhan mga estudyante at iba pang sektor sa Unibersidad.

𝟯. 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝘆𝘂 𝘀𝗮 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗸𝗼 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻

Sa pag-ikot sa iba’t ibang CUs ng UP, natukoy sa bawat pagbabahagi na kailangan ang malawakang rebyu sa mga akademiko at administratibong programa at patakaran ng pamantasan na may direktang epekto sa employment status ng mga guro at REPS. Kailangang maging inclusive ang mga patakaran para maiwasan ang pagsasantabi ng kasamang guro at REPS na di nakakatupad sa itinakdang mga pamantayan, partikular sa usaping tenure at promosyon.

𝟰. 𝗘𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Napakaraming hinihiling ng kasalukuyang administrasyon sa mga guro at REPS sa usapin ng pagututro at serbisyo sa pamantansan. Subalit sa huli, sa pamamagitan ng mga bahaginan sa mga CU naging malaking usapin na upang maiskatuparan ng mga guro at REPS ang kanilang partikular na mga gawain at responsibilidad, mahaaga ang suporta mula sa administrasyon. Sa pamamaraan man ito ng sapat na pasilidad sa pagtuturo, pananaliksik, at gawaing ekstensiyon hanggang sa pagpapataas ng mga ranggo partikular ng mga empleyadong nakapaloob sa pinakamababang rank sa pamantasan.

𝟱. 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗮 𝗸𝗮𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗻

Ang hamon sa mental na kalusugan ng empleyado ay higit na tumindi at naging matinding usapin lalo na noong pandemya. Sanhi ng konteksto ng pandemyang COVID, kaliwa’t kanan pagkakasakit at kung minsan, kamatayan ng mga mahal sa buhay, labis na naapektuhan ang katatagan ng pag-iisip ng mga guro at REPS. Sa huli, kahit natapos ang pandemya, malaking suliranin pa rin ito na marapat tugunan ng administrasyon.

𝟲. 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗶

Naging matingkad din na usapin ang kalagayan ng mga pasilidad at gusali sa ilang CUs. May mga kampus na hindi pa lubusang natatapos ang mga gusali kung kaya’t hindi nagagamit. Maraming dahilan ang ibinibigay ng mga administrador, mula sa kakulangan ng budget hanggang sa teknikal na mga usaping tulad ng kawalang permit sa pagtayo ng gusali. Sa huli, ang mismong mga sektor ng CU ang labis na naaapektuhan.

𝟳. 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲

Nakapaloob sa ating Collective Negotiation Agreement na marapat magsagawa ang ating unyon katuwang ang administrasyon ng grievance training procedure upang matukoy ang epektibong mga pamamaraan upang mabigyang resolusyon ang mga hinaing at hindi pagkakaunawaan ng mga kapwa empleyado at administrador. Sa bahagi ng unyon, naisagawa na natin ang isang grievance training workshop at kasalukuyang tinitipon ang resulta nito at mahahalagang datos at tala para sa agaran nitong pagsasakatuparan.

𝟴. 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗸𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗸𝗼 𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮

Nailatag din ng mga guro at REPS ang kahalagahang isulong ang demokratiko at konsultatibong pamamahala ilang CUs. Mahalagang maging transparent ang mga administrador sa kanilang mga polisiya at patakaran. Marapat tiyakin na hindi sila nagsasantabi ng mga sektor at hindi inaabuso ang pansamantalang hawak na kapangyarihan dahil sa posisyon.

𝟵. 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗽𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Sa pag-ikot sa buong UP System, palaging inihahain ng nakasamang mga guro at REPS ang halaga ng pagpapatupad ng CNA sa pagitan ng administrasyon at unyon. May ilan pa ring administrador ang tila hindi batid na marapat tumalima sa mga nilalaman ng CNA, partikular sa usapin ng committee representation kapwa sa antas system at CU.

𝟭𝟬. 𝗔𝗸𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗮𝗻

Sa nagdaang mga taon, patuloy ang pandarahas, paniniktik at pananakot ng mga puwersang militar at pulisya ng estado sa mga guro, unyonista’t mga mag-aaral ng uinibersidad. Maigting ang panawagan ng iba’t ibang sektor ng UP upang isulong ang pagbuo ng komite sa unibersidad na mangangalaga sa akademikong kalayaan at karapatang pantao ng mga miyembro ng komunidad ng Unibersidad.

Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, binibitbit ng AUPAEU ang mga usaping may kaunayan sa benepisyo, kapakanan, at kagalingan ng mga guro, REPS, at kawani ng U.P. Sa nangdaang mga buwan ng taong 2023 hanggang sa kasalukuyan, naging matatag ang ugnayan ng unyon at OFR upang isulong ang mga panawagan at kampanyang higit na nakabubuti sa nakararaming empleyado ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.

𝘚𝘪 𝘋𝘳. 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘭 𝘉. 𝘙𝘰𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘻 𝘢𝘺 𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘰 𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘒𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘺𝘰 𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢 𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘗 𝘋𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘢𝘵 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘜.𝘗. 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯

View the PDF file our first issue of the official publication of the Office of Faculty Regent of the University of the Philippines. Scan the QR code or click on the following link: https://issuu.com/osrup/docs/up_kalipunan_01-01-final_8f8b9c864f892e

Download the PDF file here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LAcnnEgaWHMufyJ_QHzYj0ZWQJjLA7o-/view?usp=sharing

𝘉𝘺 𝘋𝘳. 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘈. 𝘕𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘴

The Enhanced Hospitalization Program, more commonly known as eHOPE, is a program meant to help UP employees with their hospitalization expenses. Unlike the Financial Assistance Program for Hospitalization Expenses (FAPHE), which was a one-time grant, eHOPE provides a fixed amount for hospitalization and post-hospitalization medication that is renewed annually. The program began in UP Manila and the Philippine General Hospital and even though it was eventually implemented in the entire UP system, there were still gaps in implementation and utilization across constituent units (CUs).

In 2019, the Technical Working Group composed of representatives from the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) and the UP System Administration came up with recommendations to further expand the implementation of eHOPE and provide better benefits for employees. Again in 2022, the Ad Hoc Committee on eHOPE Implementation created by the Office of the UP President and which included an AUPAEU representative, forwarded to the UP President similar recommendations previously made by the TWG.

The recommendations included:

• Increase in financial coverage to Php 100,000 (from Php 80,000) plus Php 10,000 for post-hospitalization meds for all CUs

• Inclusion of out-patient services (e.g., chemotherapy, cataract surgery, rehabilitation treatment, and hemodialysis) in eHOPE coverage

• Eligibility of all UP personnel with employer-employee relationship (including those covered under the Revolving Fund/Trust Fund) regardless of length of service• “No cash out” provision in the memorandum of agreement between CUs and referral hospitals to avoid out-of-pocket expenses• Increase in eHOPE allocation for professional fee payment to twice that of the PhilHealth reimbursement in its case rate package• An amount of Php 10,000 from eHOPE to be used for out-patient diagnostic tests and imaging

  • An amount of Php 10,000 from eHOPE to be used maintenance medication

  Finally, in April 2023, through the consistent intercession of the sectoral regents, the UP Board of Regents approved three of the recommendations: increase in financial coverage of eHOPE to Php 100,000 across all CUs, expansion of eligibility to avail of eHOPE, and increase in payment for professional fees. But other urgent amendments, like the inclusion of out-patient services and lab exams and the maintenance medication in eHOPE coverage, were left out.

  Much still needs to be done to make eHOPE more relevant for UP employees. Data shows that from 2017 to 2021, three CUs comprised 80% of the beneficiaries: UP Manila/PGH 41%; UP Diliman 22%, and UP Los Baños 17%. Utilization year on year hovered from PhP 18 to 22 million (assuming 2021 to be an outlier due to the pandemic). Thus, despite UP’s allocation for eHOPE, there was significant underutilization due to the programs’ provisions.

  The Office of the Faculty Regent, together with the faculty and REPS throughout the university through the AUPAEU, continues to push for not just the approval of the remaining recommendations to expand the eHOPE but also for reforms that will ensure the health and wellness of everyone within the UP community. Challenges remain but the struggle continues and the fight marches ever forward.

  𝘋𝘳. 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘈. 𝘕𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘜𝘗 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘜.𝘗. 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 – 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳

  PHOTO: Faculty Regent Carl Marc Ramota and UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee in a gathering of faculty and REPS of UP Manila organized by All UP Academic Employees Union-Manila Chapter on December 7, 2023.

  ____________________________________

  View the PDF file our first issue of UP KALIPUNAN, the official publication of the Office of Faculty Regent of the University of the Philippines. Click on the following link: https://issuu.com/osrup/docs/up_kalipunan_01-01-final_8f8b9c864f892e

  Download the PDF file here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LAcnnEgaWHMufyJ_QHzYj0ZWQJjLA7o-/view?usp=sharing

Faculty members of the University of the Philippines (UP) continue to voice out opposition to Charter Change (Cha-Cha), particularly the proposed 100 percent foreign ownership in education.

In his message during the Cha-Cha forum on March 18 organized by the UP Diliman University Council, Faculty Regent Carl Marc Ramota questioned the need to amend the Constitution to push for internationalization and the entry of Ivy League schools in the country.

“Philippine universities have long engaged in international linkages with higher education institutions even without Cha-Cha and foreign ownership,” Faculty Regent Ramota pointed out.

“Are these the kind of reforms that the education sector needs at the moment? Do we really need to change the constitution and allow foreign ownership to improve the quality of education?” he asked.

Regent Ramota urged lawmakers and the Marcos Jr. administration to check its priorities, and revisit the first year report of the Education Commission 2 (EdCom 2) which highlights the nutrition and stunting, the ancillary tasks of teachers due to lack of administrative and academic support personnel, and failures of past education reforms, among others.

Faculty Regent Ramota added that the EdCom 2’s findings in basic education are also true in UP and other higher education institutions.

“Faculty and staff are overloaded with academic and adminsitrative work, with job order and contract of service personnel even outnumbering regular employees in a number of UP campuses and units. These are some of the main issues that our lawmakers and university administrators must address, and Charter Change definitely is not the solution to these woes,” Regent Ramota said.

“Instead of pushing for foreign ownership in higher education, our lawmarkers should give more support to our state universities and colleges,” he added.

In February, Faculty Regent Ramota together with the UP Staff and Student Regents released a joint statement opposing Cha-Cha. This was followed by the relaunch of the multisectoral, systemwide coalition, UP Against Charter Change. Various UP academic units and organizations have also released statements against Cha-Cha since 2023.

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