News, tweets -- profs

#UniversityofthePhilippines VP Popoy de Vera as CHED Commissioner, peace adviser, asks for public inputs & advice

University of the Philippines Vice President for Public Affairs and now CHED Commissioner and peace adviser, Popoy de Vera asks public for inputs and advice for “evidence-based and correct policy decisions”

From ABS-CBN News: “University of the Philippines (UP) Vice President for Public Affairs and political analyst Professor Prospero E. De Vera III has been appointed as a commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
“De Vera made the announcement on his personal Facebook page, where he said he has also been appointed as adviser to the government negotiating panel with the National Democratic Front- Communist Party of the Philippines – New Peoples’ Army (NDF-CPP-NPA).
” “I have accepted the challenge of helping the Duterte administration ensure that ‘Change is Coming’ with my appointment as CHED Commissioner and concurrently Adviser to the GPH Negotiating Panel with the NDF/CPP/NPA today,” De Vera said.
“He also asked for suggestions and recommendations on how he can make “make evidence-based and correct policy decisions.”
” “There is so much to do in reforming higher education. Please help me by giving me your thoughts, recommendations and observations so I can make evidence-based and correct policy decisions,” De Vera added.

“The CHED, created in 1994, is headed by a chairman and four commissioners. Each commissioner has a term of four years.
“The Commission En Banc “acts as a collegial body in formulating plans, policies and strategies relating to higher education and the operation of CHED,” its website says. xxx “

News, tweets -- profs

#UPDiliman #universityofthephilippines Professors condemn Davao bombing, call for justice

U.P. Diliman professors condemn Davao bombing, call for justice

The University Council, composed of all professors, associate professors, and assistant professors, is the highest academic policy-making body of the autonomous U.P. constituent unit.

(Anyone who has attended a meeting of the University Council would probably compare it to a deliberative body composed of 200 republics –– the number of independent-minded and articulate faculty members in attendance at any given time. Prepare to be grilled in a coliseum of academics when you stand up there to present a proposal. Any statement presented must be substantive, and in a form that can unify a large number of meticulous and critical educators. One would be well-advised to focus on fundamental principles.)

This body is not easy to sway.

Last Monday, this statement of condemnation of the Davao bombing was written on-the-spot (by the UC Committee on National Issues), projected on-screen, edited on-the-spot by different professors, deliberated upon and approved by the U.P. Diliman University Council presided over by Chancellor Michael Tan, PhD, that rainy and sunny morning:

Blog file photo of a University Council meeting photographed this year

“UC Statement on the Sept. 2 Davao Bombing

“We, the members of the University of the Philippines Diliman University Council, condemn in the strongest terms the recent bombing and killing of innocent civilians in Davao, and sympathize and condole with those who have lost family and friends in that tragedy.

“We wish speedy recovery for all those injured, and a quick return to normalcy in Davao. As we seek swift justice for these victims, we urge utmost respect for human rights and civil liberties, particularly under the state of national emergency declared by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“In these trying times, the UP community stands in solidarity with the people of Davao and with all Filipinos in pursuit of peace and justice.”

(“This statement was approved by the University Council at its meeting on September 5, 2016 at the NISMED Auditorium, UP Diliman. The University Council is composed of the Chancellor, professors, associate professor and assistant professors of the University.”)

Published in the official website of U.P. Diliman, upd.edu.ph , at:

http://upd.edu.ph/uc-statement-on-the-sept-2-davao-bombing/