Women’s rights advocates urge corporate sector to address domestic violence
Women’s rights advocates are urging businesses to take greater accountability in addressing domestic violence, particularly when it involves corporate executives or occurs within the context of the corporate sector. This concern was highlighted by the Zero VAWC (Violence Against Women and Children) Alliance during a media forum held on February 3 at the UP Center for Women and Gender Studies in Diliman, Quezon City. The event was organized with the support of the UP Office of the Faculty Regent. “While corporations have initiated programs to lessen gender abuse in the workplace, the majority turn a blind eye to domestic abuse and violence in intimate relationships,” stated the alliance in its Unity Statement, read by artist and Babae Ako co-founder May Paner. “They focus policies and actions on public ‘reputation risk,’ excluding ‘private matters’ from their policies.” The alliance cited the case of Emmanuel “Noel” Bonoan, a business executive and former finance undersecretary, who was compelled to withdraw as president of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) after women’s rights groups exposed his documented acts of domestic violence. “I saw the immediate aftermath of the abuse on my mother by my father,” said Martina Bonoan, daughter of Emmanuel Bonoan, who spoke at the forum. “I have lived through it, and I have seen how the cycle of abuse persists as victims regain their strength to speak out.” Martina recounted personally witnessing her father physically abusing her mother when she was just six years old. “I saw him throw my mother against their bathroom wall, my mother limply sliding down into their bathtub. Years later, I saw the injuries she had sustained after he had senselessly beaten her one night – a blackened jaw, bruised arms and shoulders, and fingers tinged with purple because she had been thrown on the floor—all while I was unsuspectingly in the next room.” She also criticized MAP for framing her father’s resignation as an “honest and moral act.” “Let’s be clear: stepping down is not accountability. It is the bare minimum in light of his actions,” she emphasized. The alliance stressed that cases like that of Bonoan are not isolated, nor are they merely private family matters. “Domestic violence spills over into every aspect of our lives—our homes, our communities, and even our workplaces,” said Judy Taguiwalo, former social welfare secretary and former UP Faculty Regent. “It is also important to recognize that victims and survivors, while primarily women and children, also include other members of the household. Domestic violence can also victimize older persons, kasambahays, and even males or individuals of other gender identities.” Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the alliance noted that one in four Filipino women aged 15 to 49 has experienced domestic violence. Many cases remain unreported due to fear, stigma, and lack of institutional support. “When companies ignore domestic violence, they send a message that power and profit matter more than human dignity,” said former Gabriela representative Emmi de Jesus. Gert Libang, chairperson of Gabriela, acknowledged legislative gains in protecting women and children from domestic violence but stressed that much more needs to be done. “The government must have a mechanism for monitoring corporate compliance with anti-VAWC laws. Otherwise, it cannot demand accountability from corporations, and its stance to end VAWC becomes mere tokenism,” Libang asserted. She also urged the executive branch to strengthen the monitoring and enforcement functions of the Philippine Commission on Women and other relevant agencies. Libang further emphasized that employee workplaces and management associations, including MAP, must adopt codes of conduct addressing VAWC and other forms of gender-based discrimination. UP Faculty Regent Early Sol A. Gadong expressed her support for initiatives combating domestic violence and other forms of violence against women and children. “With the Kaayohan framework guiding my leadership, we emphasize wellness, well-being, and welfare for all, including the right of all workers, especially women, to be safe from violence, whether inside or outside the workplace,” Faculty Regent Gadong stated. She also criticized corporations for prioritizing brand protection over the dignity and rights of their workers. “We question why they constantly show off policies that prevent workplace harassment but stay silent when abuse happens in the home, knowing full well that survivors bring the trauma with them to work. This is clearly selective accountability, and this selectiveness fuels a culture of impunity. Abusers are protected while victims are left without recourse,” she concluded.
Faculty Regent Gadong expresses alarm over 2025 UP budget cut
Faculty Regent Early Sol Gadong has expressed alarm over the PhP2.08 billion budget cut affecting the University of the Philippines (UP), alongside reductions in the budgets of critical social services such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), and housing agencies. Speaking at the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) Strategic Planning for 2025, Gadong urged collective action to address these austerity measures, which she warned would adversely affect UP and marginalized sectors across the country. Newly sworn-in Faculty Regent Gadong officially assumed office after being sworn in by UP President Angelo Jimenez in a short oath-taking ceremony at Quezon Hall in UP Diliman, Quezon City, attended by academic union officers, former faculty regents, university officials, and members of the UP community. During the planning session, Gadong delivered an in-depth discussion on the National Situation, providing a critical review of 2024 challenges and key political and economic issues for the new year. She analyzed the tensions between the ruling political cliques of the Dutertes and Marcoses, emphasizing their impact on national governance. She also discussed the quadcom hearings investigating former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs and Vice President Sara Duterte’s questionable fund allocations under the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, including the alleged misappropriation of PhP125 million in just 11 days. The discussion highlighted the Marcos administration’s budget reductions for education, health, and disaster response, as well as the controversial PhP4.5 billion confidential funds under the Office of the President. Gadong warned of potential misuse of these funds to influence electoral outcomes and criticized increased Social Security System (SSS) contributions that burden working-class Filipinos. Faculty Regent Gadong called on AUPAEU members to join the campaign against budget cuts for social services and to advocate for academic freedom, social justice, and institutional accountability. The planning session ended with a commitment to advancing the welfare of UP faculty and staff while standing in solidarity with sectors affected by budget cuts, corruption, and political infighting.
Prof. Early Sol Gadong sworn in as 28th Faculty Regent of the University of the Philippines System
The Office of the Sectoral Regents (OSR) of the University of the Philippines (UP) welcomed its newly sworn-in Faculty Regent, Prof. Early Sol Gadong, during a ceremony held on January 6, 2025 at Quezon Hall in UP Diliman campus, Quezon City. Prof. Gadong, a faculty member of UP High School in Iloilo, brings with her a strong commitment to the welfare and well-being of the UP faculty and the university community. She assumes the office of the 28th Faculty Regent for the term 2025-2026. Her oath-taking ceremony was attended by various members and leaders of the UP community, including UP President Angelo Jimenez, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo D.P. Cubillan, UP Vice President for Legal Affairs Abraham Rey Acosta, Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents Roberto M.J. Lara, All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) National President Perlita Raña, Prof. Hermie Cartagena from the AUPAEU-Iloilo chapter, Jonathan Beldia from the UP Workers Alliance, members of UP Multisectoral Alliance, CONTEND, UP Arboretum community members, and others. Prof. Gadong articulated her vision for the office, focusing on a service-oriented leadership model that places a premium on faculty welfare, academic freedom, and inclusion. Central to her plan is the advocacy for more plantilla positions, liveable wages, and transparent policies on faculty recruitment, tenure, and promotion. Following the advocacies of outgoing 27th Faculty Regent Carl Marc Ramota, Prof. Gadong also expressed her intention to further push for the promotion of academic freedom, ensuring that UP remains a safe space for free thought and critical expression. Prof. Gadong further emphasized her commitment to mental health initiatives and welfare policies, such as advocating for enhanced housing benefits and stress-free commute options for newly hired faculty members. Additionally, her plan includes fostering stronger collaboration and dialogue across the different UP campuses to address unique academic challenges, such as those faced by the basic education units and creative sectors. As the newly appointed Faculty Regent, Prof. Gadong takes on the responsibility of representing the UP faculty’s interests in the Board of Regents and will work closely with university administrators and unions to push for reforms that address the growing needs of the faculty sector. In her message during the oath-taking ceremony, Prof. Gadong thanked his predecessors, particularly outgoing Faculty Regent Ramota, for their leadership and unwavering advocacy for academic freedom and faculty welfare. She assured the UP community that under her leadership, the Office of the Faculty Regent (OFR) would continue to be a vital platform for addressing the challenges faced by the faculty while upholding the university’s commitment to academic freedom and public service. The ceremony concluded with a humble salu-salo, where attendees partook of light snacks and gathered for a photo session.
Historic confab advocates for protecting critical thinking, progressive engagement in education institutions
Over 200 participants and 40 distinguished speakers gathered at the GT Toyota Auditorium at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines(UP) Diliman on Tuesday, December 4, 2024, to hold the historic 1st Academic Freedom and Human Rights Conference to discuss urgent threats to academic freedom and human rights in the country’s different education institutions. Organized by the UP Office of the Faculty Regent, All U.P. Academic Employees Union, Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND), the Network in Defense of Historical Truth and Academic Freedom, and the Defend UP Network, the conference highlighted the urgent need to protect academic institutions from threats to intellectual independence and progressive politics. It also coincided with CONTEND’s 5th Pingkian Conference, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing critical thought and social justice. Participants and speakers tackled pressing issues such as red-tagging and terror-tagging, which have increasingly targeted students, faculty, and staff engaged in socio-civic advocacy and critical work. The phenomenon has become prevalent not only in UP but also in other academic institutions with outspoken community members in their critique of state policies and positions. Concerns were also raised about the corporatization and commercialization of state universities, which jeopardize their public service mandate. For instance, the replacement of community institutions like the UP Shopping Center with commercial developments catering to big businesses underscores the creeping influence of corporate interests in education. Participants and speakers have also pointed to institutional agreements such as the UP-Armed Forces of the Philippines Declaration of Cooperation as attempts to stifle dissenting opinion and further compromise the independence of scholars, students, and university staff. In a joint statement, conference participants underscored the systemic challenges confronting academic freedom: “(a)s education becomes more commodified, schools and universities are targeted by efforts to silence dissent, suppress critical thought, and stifle resistance to systemic injustices. Red-tagging, censorship, harassment, and the criminalization of academic and civic engagement are assaults on the integrity of education itself.” To address these issues, they called for the creation of Committees on the Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights across educational institutions in the Philippines. These committees would defend academic freedom against harassment, red-tagging, and repression; provide institutional support for educators, students, and staff facing threats; promote dialogue on the importance of academic freedom and human rights; and advocate for progressive policies to institutionalize these protections. The conference reaffirmed the commitment of the academic community to resist the erosion of freedoms and to uphold progressive education and critical thinking as cornerstones of a democratic society. Participants pledged to continue engaging their peers in the fight for academic freedom, ensuring that universities remain bastions of critical thinking and progressive values, and sites of protection for human rights defenders. #DefendAcademicFreedom #UpholdHumanRights
Prof. Early Sol Gadong is new UP Faculty Regent
Prof. Early Sol Gadong, a faculty member of the University of the Philippines High School in Iloilo (UPHSI), is the next Faculty Regent of the University of the Philippines (UP). Prof. Gadong’s two-year term will begin on January 1, 2025, as the sole representative of the faculty on the UP Board of Regents, the highest decision-making body of the UP System. The UP Board of Regents confirmed on Nov. 28. 2024, the results of the Faculty Regent Election held on Nov. 20-21, 2024. Her plan of action as Faculty Regent is grounded in the collective wellness of the UP community and the Filipino people. Prof. Gadong is a UP Artist II, one of the Ten Outstanding Women of Iloilo City for 2024, and a four-time recipient of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. She also served as the President of the All UP Academic Employees Union – Iloilo Chapter from 2017 to 2022. Written by Carlson Alelis, IPO
𝗨𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗸𝗼𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯: 𝗠𝗴𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗺 𝗻𝗮 𝗨𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀𝘆𝘂 𝘀𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝗼𝗻𝗴 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
𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗛𝗢𝗣𝗘: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀
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
𝗖𝗵𝗮-𝗖𝗵𝗮, 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗲𝘀
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. #NoToChaCha No to Cha-cha Network