Chancellors of 3 UP System autonomous campuses appointed

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna, Philippines – Three constituent universities (autonomous campuses) of the University of the Philippines System (UPS) have new chancellors.

They are Dr. Rex Victor Cruz of UP Los Baños (UPLB), Dr. Manuel Agulto of UP Manila, and Prof. Rommel Espinosa of UP Visayas.

Their appointments have been approved by the Board of Regents, the highest policymaking body of the UP System. They will lead their respective institutions for the next three years.

UP Los Baños is the country’s foremost university in agriculture, forestry, and related sciences.

Its new chancellor, Cruz, has envisioned it to be “a genuine public service university, a relevant research university, and an ever-growing graduate university.”

Under the leadership of UP System president Alfredo Pascual, he looks forward to crafting “mechanisms to facilitate delivery of technical assistance, expert services, information and technology to national and local governments, local communities, private sector and the civil society.”

Cruz, who had earlier been dean of the UPLB-College of Forestry and Natural Resources, also pledged to help develop strategies for sustainable, optimal, and most profitable use of Makiling Forest Reserve and other real properties of UP.

UP Manila is the premier state university’s unit that specializes in health and science (among its components is the Philippine General Hospital or PGH).

Agulto, an ophthalmologist, has envisioned UP Manila as “a nationally and internationally recognized center of excellence in health and social science education and transnational research, producing not only published works but also innovative patents.”

He also pledged to make UPM a “center for caring, competent, and world-class health care and social services serving all sectors of society, but especially the underserved” and “a center for collaboration, policy generation, and advocacy on relevant national and international issues.”

UP Visayas is the premier tertiary institutions in marine and fishery sciences. Its four campuses straddle Central Philippines – the main campuses in Miag-ao, Iloilo, UP Iloilo in Iloilo City, both in Western Visayas; UP Cebu (Cebu City, Central Visayas); and UP Tacloban (Leyte, Eastern Visayas).

Its new chancellor, Physics professor Espinosa, envisions for UP Visayas a doctoral (PhD) program in marine or ocean sciences that will have multidisciplinary streams; and the institution of new General Education (GE) courses and expansion of the Philippine Studies Domain.

His plans in research include consolidation and rationalization of research bodies under a Thrusts and Programs Master Plan. He also expressed support for creative writing and workshops.

Other UP System constituent universities are UP Diliman, UP Open University (in Los Baños), UP Mindanao (Davao City), and UP Baguio.