Since his first State of the University Address, President Manuel G. Palomo has accomplished more than 50% of the projects he has laid down in the past months.

Based on a list of upcoming projects published in the May-June 2009 issue of the Wesleyan Updates, Prof. Palomo is seen to have accomplished about half of his expressed programs and platforms so far within a time table not exceeding three semesters. This includes the renovation and modernization of the university auditorium, the ongoing installation of a campus-wide wireless Internet coverage, the purchasing of vans for the use of nursing students undergoing affiliation duties, the declogging of drainage canals in the campus, the declaration of WUP as a drug-free, alcohol-free and smoke-free campus; the adoption of a new university mission-vision and seal; and the decentralization of the WUP Aurora Campus.

These are apart from the opening of the new North Gate, the adoption of new policies on the selection of textbooks and other instructional materials, the revival of a centralized Supreme Student Council (SSC), distribution of faculty load assignments based on equity and faculty qualifications, contracting of new review centers to meet the satisfactory number of board passers, providing new training program for teachers, approving new scholarships, and upgrading the employee salary structure.

And yet a year after the president’s assumption of office the administration found itself grappling with a few challenges emanating (surprisingly) from people who occupy the higher ranks of management. This situation was countered by instituting a massive reorganization on the top positions of the Board of Trustees, prompted by Prof. Palomo himself to troubleshoot the difficulties and therefore demonstrate strength amid the rough waters.


Triggering Circumstances

The preventive suspension and later, resignation of WUP’s Chief Finance Officer Franklin V. Vicencio shed light (either coincidentally or not) on some irregularities allegedly committed by some officials sitting in the highest echelon of the university – the collegial body of the Board of Trustees. As open letters calling for the resignation of three high-ranking officials in the BOT on allegations of administrative violations circulated, the president launched a conclusive investigation which brought out such irregularities on the open. Then a few weeks later, Prof. Palomo made the unprecedented decision – he recommended to the College of Bishops (COB) the removal of BOT Chair Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua for the reason of hiding his non-Methodism and BOT members Bayani O. Azcarraga and Architect Rodrigo G. Lagman for conflicts of interest, a motion which the COB endorsed after careful deliberations. This was the first time in the history of Wesleyan University - Philippines that a president has challenged the members of the Board of Trustees — let alone its chairman – risking the possibility of being ousted by them from the presidency should the COB find the grounds of his recommendation wanting.

Then later on, the COB, in a letter dated August 12, 2010 signed by Bishops Daniel C. Arichea, Jr., Leo A. Soriano and COB President Bishop Rudolfo A. Juan (attested by Bishops Jose C. Gamboa, Jr. and Emerito P. Nacpil) acknowledged Atty. Pascua’s August 5 voluntary resignation from the WUP Corporation and as Chairman of the Board. Atty. Pascua was therefore asked by the COB to cease and desist from performing his functions in the board as the corporation considered his membership terminated since August 6th, immediately a day after his resignation. They likewise decided to terminate Arch. Lagman and Engr. Azcarraga’s membership from the corporation and from the Board.


A Colossal Revamp

Then, on the morning of August 26, 2010, President Palomo summoned the deans, department heads and the university media to introduce to them the newly appointed members of the Board of Trustees, replacing six members who were either terminated or have resigned (three of whom were the aforementioned).

Among the newly-appointed members was former Rotary Governor and former Chair of Bulacan’s provincial automation Mr. Pacifico Boy Aniag, who was elected as the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Aniag joined the BOT along with US Agency for International Development (USAID) consultant Glenn Paraso and Chevron Phils. Regional Head and 1986 CPA Board Topnotcher Leo V. Dagamac to take the places of Pascua, Lagman and Azcarraga (Dagamac was the next choice after Leonard Ting declined the offer of BOT membership due to multiplicity of duties).

The president also introduced three more new members: Aldersgate College’s current president Dr. Junifen F. Gauuan, General Tinio Vice Mayor Mr. Ferdinand Bote and Cagayan State University administrator Dr. Nita Garcia. Dr. Gauuan was elected new Vice Chairman while Mr. Bote was the new Secretary. Incumbent members Retired Judge Raymundo Z. Annang (now Board Treasurer) and Mr. Antonio I. Chua, Jr. were also present, along with Rev. Bishops Rudolfo Juan and Emerito Nacpil who came to recognize the Board. Incumbent members Usec. Narciso B. Nieto and Dr. Proceso T. Domingo were not able to come due to other official duties (Domingo is the current president of the National Defense College of the Department of National Defense). The twelfth member of the Board is Bishop Daniel Arichea who stands as honorary member.

Bishop Nacpil reminded the trustees of their primary responsibility to the university, telling them: “We pray that you do not claim as your own what is not your own, but as stewards you are entrusted with it… collectively you are responsible as a whole.” Bishop Juan on the meantime hoped that people would not settle on divisive misconceptions about recent developments in the university.

This recognition of new members completed the process of reorganizing WUP’s Board of Trustees, and hopefully put the university into alignment with the development plans the MGP administration has begun. It is a way of eliciting cooperation and consensus into attaining the visions set to make Wesleyan a strong educational landmark in the region.


Orders of the Day

Unlike the previous Board, the new BOT limit themselves to policy-making (which is strictly provided for by the institutional By-Laws), leaving the implementation phase to the president as the chief executive to avoid overlapping and crisscrossing of functions which often lead to many conflicts, including conflicts of interest.

In their first two meetings alone the newly-constituted BOT have already achieved a lot of things. They have approved the implementation of the new basic salary scheme for Wesleyan University General Hospital and Cardiovascular Center (WUGHCC) employees, who were formerly excluded from the improvements in WUP employees’ salary structure. They also gave a go signal to the Information and Communication Technology department (ICT) to construct a Fiber Optic Backbone which will become a better foundation of the university’s IT infrastructure. The Fiber Optic Backbone is a campus-wide project that will make telecommunication, including internet access, ten times faster than today’s internet downloading speed.

The new Board has also approved the integration of the new Medical Transcription course into the BS Nursing curriculum so that upon graduating the students will have a choice and qualification to enter the medical transcription profession should they find it difficult to enter the nursing field. The course would be made available to non-nursing students as well.

Among others things the new BOT has approved were the new organizational structure of WUP, which introduced three new vice presidential positions; the new salaries and allowances system for the new deans, department heads and area coordinators; and a new outsourced company to provide WUP with quality janitorial services.


Towards a Smoother Course

In the midst of challenges the MGP administration has exhibited dynamism, practicality and readiness to choose and to change whenever academic advancement requires it. Such sweeping reforms ensure a strong base for the administration to work on for enhancing the institution, thus producing so far fast and positive results. The administration has resolved long-standing labor problems which plagued previous administrations, improved university infrastructure, and addressed many issues, showing that MGP is a president who listens to the needs of the faculty, staff and students. Unfazed by the slanders of those disgruntled by recently-implemented reforms, he continues to build an institution where merit is recognized above anything else.###