Five vie for presidency of NORSU

CEBU, Philippines – Five contenders for the presidency of the Negros Oriental State University have presented their plans and programs before the search committee, headed by Emerlinda Roman, former president of the University of the Philippines.

The five—Briccio Merced Jr., Virginia Lacuesta, Joel Limson, Noel Marjon Yasi and Jim Villahermosa—took turns first in answering a uniform question from the representatives of the alumni, faculty, administration, student government and the community.

Later, they underwent three more rounds of questioning from the public on pressing issues and concern of the university, such on how to make NORSU globally competitive, ensure academic freedom and raise funds for the university, among others.

During the open forum, the five were asked on what to do with the conflicts between two unions inside the NORSU system, lack of classrooms and other facilities, dirty comfort rooms, the implementation of the K to 12 program next year and the enrolment system.

Roman chaired the search committee, which consisted, as members, former Silliman University president and DENR secretary Angel Alcala, Francel Martinez of the Negros Oriental Business Foundation Inc., CHED-7 regional director Freddie Bernal, and Dr. Torres of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges.

Roman told The FREEMAN the five applicants were good and it is now the committee’s task to pick the top three, whose names will be submitted within this week to the Board of Regents who will have the final say on who will be the next NORSU president.

Former NORSU president Henry Sojor, who was invited to witness the selection process, said the same methodology was used by the search committee during his time, but the difference was that he was appointed by the president of the Philippines.

Sojor prefers appointment from the president because requests for funding will be fast tracked if such comes from a presidential appointee, who will also be serving until retirement unlike the one in state colleges and universities who will only be good for one four-year term and then subjected for reappointment. In UP, the term is five years but without reappointment, he said.

The current NORSU officer-in-charge Peter Dayot, who is now up for a mandatory retirement at age 65 in February next year, said it has been a tough and a very challenging job, which he assumed from Don Vicente Real who resigned.