Honor, excellence, and public service headlined the UPLB strategic planning workshop held on Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2024, in General Trias, Cavite, the first under the second term of Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr.

The workshop opened on Jan. 30 with a presentation and discussion by Prof. Tiffany Adelaine G. Tan, UP assistant vice president for administration, on UP President Angelo A. Jimenez’s vision for UP in 2023-2029, anchored on teaching, public service, and governance. 

Tan highlighted the UP administration’s thrust toward public service and inclusive development. 

“In every subject that we do, we inculcate in students that we are destined to serve,” said Tan. “The way we teach should be very different; we want [our students] to co-create knowledge with us, and [we should] cultivate values in them when we teach,” she added.

Chancellor Camacho similarly emphasized UPLB’s prioritization of public service and its support for the vision of the UP administration.

The workshop activities were spearheaded by Anna Floresca F. Firmalino, director of the Office of International Linkages, and Mark Lester M. Chico, director of the Office of Public Relations. They led the interactive prioritization activity wherein the participants were divided into groups, assigned UPLB projects, and asked to align them according to the three pillars. 

Dr. Myra G. Borines, director of the Quality Assurance Office; Jose Limbay Lahi O. Espaldon, director of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod; and Dr. Emil John C. Cabrera, director of the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office, served as facilitators of the alignment activity.

Later, Dr. Charina Gracia B. Banaay, assistant to the vice chancellor for academic affairs, Dr. Jenielyn T. Padrones, director of the Office for Institutional Development in Higher Education, and Eugene Raymond P. Crudo, assistant to the vice chancellor for administration, presented the results of the said activity. 

The second day of the workshop put the spotlight on student and staff welfare.  Dr. James Roldan S. Reyes, Reanne Len C. Arlan, and Dr. Zita VJ Albacea, faculty members at the Institute of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, presented the results of the UPulse survey regarding UPLB constituents’ satisfaction with university services and priority programs and projects. This was followed by a discussion on administrative concerns led by Prof. Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero and Dhanicca Domingo from the College of Public Affairs and Development. 

The workshop’s highlight was the finalization of the UPLB Strategic Plan Toolkit. This session was led by Dr. Haerold Dean Z. Layaoen, director of the University Planning and Maintenance Office, and Dr. Paolo Rommel A. Sanchez, director of the Digital Innovation Center. Layaoen and Sanchez presented the consolidated report of the alignment activity, which will be submitted to the UP System.

Dr. Rossana Marie C. Amongo, vice chancellor for planning and development, formally closed the workshop. In her message, Amongo encouraged her fellow administrators to frequently visit the plans and strategies formed during the workshop and constantly evaluate themselves based on these.

The workshop served as a venue to discuss the University’s ongoing pressing issues and was attended by the university’s vice chancellors, unit heads, and directors. (KEAraguas and JSArana)