UP Land Misuse

The forum entitled “Probing the UP Land Use” held last January 10 was an important initiative and manifestation of the University of the Philippine-Diliman’s community’s awareness, sensitivity and vigilance regarding, especially, events that take place within the university itself. I have only been to the UP Town Center twice. The restaurants look good and seem to offer sumptuous menus, but their prices look good as well. The kind of a good price that I will only be willing to go back if I will be with my parents, so I will not have to pay for my own meal, with most of my allowance already reserved for photocopying readings. I pass by it every day and I also observed that it is mostly people from outside UP who fill its spaces; which can also be said of the UP-Ayala Techno Hub (understandably, since it is flanked by call center agencies). But what is not clear is the contribution these private establishments have to the university’s mission, especially in the academic core or aspect. Aside from being a leisure place for students (and actually its market, I believe, extending beyond that), which is just an added or ‘stated’ purpose of it, what and how else could these contribute into making UP a conducive environment for learning and in promoting academic excellence?

Professor Alonzo, one of the two speakers in the forum, mentioned that there has long been private sector participation in the university. These would include the little kiosks and cafeterias spread all over the campus. These however, obviously pale in comparison with the Ayala establishments on UP Diliman land; in terms of potential and actual revenue generated and potential contribution it could have to the university and its community. Since these are big establishments, perhaps we are entitled to expect more responsibility from them. Since these are big establishments, the more that the purposes of these Ayala establishments should have been probed and made sure that they are aligned with the “academic mission” of the national university. I remember conducting a group interview with the “Samahan ng mga Manininda sa UP Campus Inc.” last school year for a research paper. I learned that their position in the university is actually threatened, with an annual requirement of renewal for permits and proposals for abolition of their ‘small’ businesses within the campus. Compared with the big establishments, the small kiosks have always been helpful and accessible, and are more practical for students to go to.

Professor Taguiwalo on the other hand discussed the distorted supposed image and accordance given to UP as the ‘premier state university’ (now just stated in RA 9500 to be a “national university”), with UP succumbing to the Ayala or privatization trap. She also mentioned the strong encouragement of President Aquino regarding revenue generation for self-sufficiency of colleges and universities, because the government cannot fully and sufficiently provide a budget for SUCs. I would like to reiterate sentiments forwarded during the forum, that having insufficient budget to allocate to SUCs is not believable at all. The Napoles/PDAF scam is clear evidence of corruption and (maybe even deliberate) irresponsibility on the part of elected officials; of wasted tax being paid by Filipinos, rich and poor. It is the state’s responsibility to provide good education for and to its citizens. UP exists for that purpose and shall continue to do so, and be reinforced by the state that it may completely fulfil its mission.

The Ayala establishments have already been built and operational, whether they were permitted with consultation with other members of the UP-Diliman community is an issue, but a time machine has not been invented to reverse these consequential actions. Perhaps for now, we could only continue to be vigilant about their operation, and push for transparency and accountability. Make sure that revenue generated from these establishments will be allocated and will be translated into things concrete that will benefit students, professors and the whole UP-Diliman community.