UP acted favorably on four students’ request

Four students of the University of the Philippines Manila—Mark Policarpio, Mark Quinto, Christian Durana and Cleve Arguelles—will be considered for graduation this April 2014.

Acting on the letter-request of the students, UP president Alfredo Pascual advised UP Manila officials to thresh out all issues that may affect the status and enrollment of students in light of the provisions of Articles 330 and 430 of the University Code, guided by the spirit of that proviso to promote access to education.

The students failed to pay their tuition on time and requested UP Manila officials that they be allowed to pay their tuition at the end of the semester so they could graduate this semester.

They also wrote Pascual, admitting that they did not avail themselves of the existing financial assistance services of the university through the Student Loan Board, but appealed for consideration given their completion of all requirements and their desire to graduate.

The UP Board of Regents in December 2013 adopted a policy that “no qualified UP student shall be denied access to UP education due to financial incapacity.”

Earlier in May 2013, Pascual issued Executive Order No. PAEP 13-14 directing the

Student Loan Board to grant loans to cover 100 percent of all assessed fees of financially needy students.

Under this new policy, all students who encounter financial difficulties when enrolling can get a loan from the Student Loan Board to cover 100 percent of their tuition and miscellaneous fees so they can officially register and attend classes. The interest is waived if a student pays the loan within the semester.

Under the revised Article 431 of the University Code, students who have unpaid loans by the end of the semester and wish to register for the next semester can appeal to the chancellor; if their appeal is found meritorious, they will be allowed to enroll even with unpaid financial obligations. This cycle is allowed for three successive semesters to ensure that students can continue their studies.

University officials are also required to assist students who are unable to pay their student loans for three successive semesters through scholarships, grant-in-aid, student assistantship or rebracketing under the Socialized Tuition System.

Recognizing that the change in policy was undertaken late last year and the case of the four students happened in the transition period from the old to the new rules of the University Code, Pascual reminded all university officials to be conscious of the spirit of the recently enacted amendments by the Board of Regents.

Among the four students who appealed their case, UP Manila vice chancellor Josephine de Luna reviewed and found merit in the request of Mark Policarpio to settle his overdue tuition fees. The three other students who were similarly situated were also sent letters informing them that the university grants their request and will await their payment by April 4, 2014.

—J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III, Vice President for Public Affairs, University of the Philippines