Rey Malvin A.

Pallomina 2014 – 81840 October 3, 2017

University of the Philippines Visayas

Search Process for the Next Chancellor 2017

According to Section 2 of the Executive Order Number 628 dated October 30, 1980, the
University of the Philippines in the Visayas shall be headed by a Chancellor, and shall be an
executive officer of the autonomous University. The Chancellor will discharge the following
responsibilities, such as, prescribing the rules for the governance of the University; submitting to
the President of the University the courses of the study and the academic programs, rules of
discipline, and awards of degrees and diploma as recommended by the University Council;
maintaining links with other University campuses, other institutions of higher learning, and
government ministries to ensure fruitful academic interchange; to submit an annual report on the
operations of the autonomous University; to prepare and recommend the budget of the
University to the President of the University system; and to institute the appropriate and efficient
exercise of such functions or responsibilities as may be necessary for the expeditious
administration of the autonomous University. With this, the Chancellor of the University would
act as the controlling agent of the university managing these responsibilities, and with this, a
much thorough process should be implemented to seek the most qualified candidates for the
position of Chancellor.

On August 3, 2017, the President of the University System, President Danilo

Conception, issued an Administrative Order No. PDLC 17 – 35 to commence the search
process for the next Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Visayas, as well as, in the
other campuses, Los Baños and Manila, pursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act 9500, which
states that, “The Chancellor of the constituent university shall be elected by the Board upon
nomination of the President of the University, following a process of consultation with the
constituents of the constituent university based on standards and guidelines set by the Board”.
In this search process a search committee must be formed which comprised of men and women
whose integrity is absolute and unassailable, and maintain the highest regard for the interests of
the University. The search committee shall embody the following guidelines listed in the
Administrative Order. First, they will oversee the process for finding the nominees for the
Chancellorship and not just count votes. Second, the committee’s job is to find a candidate that
is qualified enough for the nomination of Chancellorship. Lastly, the search committee shall
consist, specifically, of two senior faculty members: Associate Professor, Full Professor,
University Professor, and/or Emeritus Professor; one junior faculty member: Assistant
Rey Malvin A. Pallomina 2014 – 81840 October 3, 2017

Professor, or Instructor; one REPS; one administrative staff; one student; and a representative
of the President. On August 17, 2017, an Administrative Order No. TJH 2017-30A was issued
by the Executive Vice President of the University, naming the representatives of each
constitution in the Search Committee in the UPV. With Professor Kevin Henry Villanueva as the
chair of the Search Committee in UPV, along with his fellow colleagues, Prof. Joy Lizada as a
representative for the Senior Faculty; Prof. Mary Ann Gumban, for Junior Faculty; Ms. Feby
Carmen, for REPS; Mr. Brian Sapinosa, for the Administrative Staff; Ms. Therese Arianne
Samson, for the Student; and Vice President Joselito Florendo as the President’s
Representative. In August 27, 2017 Prof. Kevin Henry Villanueva, issued a Memorandum Order
No. KHRV 2017-3, calling for the nomination to the search for the Chancellor of UP Visayas.

According to Memorandum Order No. KHRV 2017-3, to be nominated, a nominee

should be a Filipino citizen committed to the ideals, values, and the academic freedom of the
University; demonstrated observance of the principles of the collegiality and democratic
process; has unquestionable moral integrity; should possess academic leadership and
administrative skill; and should be willing to serve as a Chancellor on a full-time basis for three
years. In this conduct of search Chancellorship, the Search Committee is required to interview
as many residents in the university to provide a concrete evidence in the qualification and
competence of the nominees, but must not conduct a straw poll because this might create an
impression that the process is a popularity contest. The Search Committee is also mandated to
ask the nominees about their willingness to serve as a full-time Chancellor for three full years,
and should interview the candidates about their vision, and refute any derogatory information.
The nominees must submit a summary of his/her significant qualifications and achievements
and a vision paper comprising his/her agendas planned during his/her reign as Chancellor in the
University.

On September 2, 2017, two nominees were announced, Dr. Ricardo Babaras in College
of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences; and Dr. Philip Ian Padilla in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Ricardo Babaran’s agenda included: Strengthening Academic programs; Integrating the
establishment of The Hub of Institutional Synergy, Integration, Sustainability, and Impact
Transfer for Agri-Fisheries in the Philippines with UPV’s operations, strengthening of academic
programs, and internationalization agenda through the ASEAN Centre on Fisheries; Laying the
groundwork for supporting the emerging bid of UPVTC to become the 9th constituent university
of UP; and Integration of health and wellness agenda into the university’s operational policies to
address apparently high incidence of cancer cases among faculty and staff at UPV’s Miag-ao
Rey Malvin A. Pallomina 2014 – 81840 October 3, 2017

campus. While Dr. Philip Ian Padilla’s agenda included: Health Promotion and Wellness;
Promoting Excellence (academic and administrative); Arts Appreciation and Promotion;
Increasing Research Productivity; and Development of more Training modules for Public
Service. The Search Committee presented the candidates along with their vision for UP
Visayas, during a public forum in September 13, 2017 held at the auditorium of the UP Visayas
Iloilo City campus. They also organized the presentation of candidates in UP Visayas Tacloban
campus on September 18, 2017.

In this process every University constituent could see how thorough the University is in
searching for the right candidate for the Chancellorship of an autonomous University. From the
ethics, down to the commitment of the candidate, it is meticulously analyzed by the Search
Committee in order for the University to have the best Chancellor who would pilot the University
to the right track. Accordingly, everyone is waiting for the decision on who’s going to be the next
University of the Philippines of the Visayas Chancellor.