Professional Documents
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to provide food service to Kalay, Molave, and Ilang-ilang Residence Halls. She also noted
that Chancellor Tan specifically instructed her that there should not be any increases in
fees collected from students residing in any housing units of the
During the said dialogue, SR Macuha promised to share to the BOR the clarifications
presented by VC Santillan and Dr. Guevarra. In addition, he hopes to work together with
Dr. Guevarra in suggesting steps to improve the welfare of students in dormitories in the
university.
Urgent Dormitory Issue on UP Los Baos
During the UPLB Student Summit, officers of the Alliance of Dormitory Associations raised
to SR Macuha concerns about the apparent closure of three of the residence halls in the
university: ATI-NTC Dormitory, Forestry Residence Hall (FOREHA), and New Forestry
Residence Hall (New FOREHA). According to them, approximately 450 students shall be
displaced if the said dormitories will be closed this coming Second Semester due to
renovations.
Should the said concern be true, it is very inexcusable to hear that the outgoing UPLB
Administration shall prioritize renovations over the welfare of students staying at housing
units of the university, regardless of the merit that the said dorms need refurbishing.
Searching for a place to stay outside the university premises, at the middle of the academic
year is very improbable, not to mention that dorms outside charge higher fees than in
UPLB. To note, dormitories in UPLB charge one of the highest rates for student housing
throughout the system. Simply put, it would be a complete disservice to those that would
be affected.
During the oath taking of Chancellor Fernando Sanchez Jr., SR Macuha already raised the
issue to him through the help of President Pascual. According to him, he is open to work
the said renovations in different phases so that fewer students shall be displaced from
their current dwelling place. The OSR is therefore grateful that his administration would
take appropriate steps once he assumes office on 1 November 2014. In addition, the
Office urges the UP Administration and the honorable members of this Board to take
appropriate steps in increasing the absorptive capacity of dormitories in the whole system.
On the Current State of the UPLB Perspective and other Student Publications in Different
Units
During the same summit, writers from the UPLB Perspective raised to the attention of SR
Macuha the current state of the once functional student publication. According to them,
the slow processes of procurement in the university hinders the efficient operations of the
UPLB Perspective. Inability to release a single copy since 2009 (except once during 2011,
and another yesterday), the case has dragged on much to the dismay of past and present
UPLB students. In order to uphold the mandate of providing information to students, they
have resorted to online news instead. Other student publications in the system also
experience the same due to various reasons, while some units do not have any up to the
present time.
Student publications have been a source of alternative information in different units. In
addition, they have produced several known journalists, and other personalities in
Philippine society. With this, the OSR urges that the UP Administration to help the student