On 29 June 2020
A. Memorandum OSU2020-07-08 (cont’d)
IV. OTHER MATTERS (cont’d)
1. Benefits of the PGH health workers … (cont’d) . . .
1.2 Regent Pedrano added that she brought these matters up to the Board of Regents to have clear instructions and timelines for the resolution of the said issues, and to avoid PHWs to apply for better paying offers outside the country. She said the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia is hiring around 10,000 health workers for a monthly salary of about P91,000.
1.3 On the issue of uniform allowance, Vice President Yunque explained that the agreement in PGH for clothing allowance is that it is to be given alternately in cash or in kind (ready-to-wear uniforms). For this year, PGH is supposed to provide uniforms instead of cash, that is why the bidding process has already been started and there was already a winning bidder. However, from his understanding, the winning bidder backed out due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the agreement was to give the clothing allowance in cash. He said that PGH Director Legaspi is already looking into the matter.
1.4 Vice President Bersales informed the Board that the clothing allowance is expected to be released by next week since PGH is already processing the necessary documentation.
1.5 Vice President Yunque explained that the issue in the grant of the COVID-19 Hazard Pay is that, under the provisions of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, PHWs who are already entitled to Hazard Pay under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (RA 7305) will receive whichever is higher between the COVID-19 Hazard Pay and the Magna Carta Hazard Pay. This was reflected in the DBM-issued guidelines for the grant of the COVID-19 Hazard Pay.
1.6 President Concepcion said that since it is a legal issue, he recommended referring the matter to DBM for the proper interpretation of the guidelines.
1.7 On the Special Risk Allowance, Vice President Yunque explained that, in addition to the Hazard Pay granted under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, a grant of a one-time COVID-19 Special Risk Allowance, equivalent to a maximum of 25% of monthly basic salary/pay, will be given to PHWs who have great exposure to health risks and physical hardships in the line of duty.
However, based on the guidelines issued by DBM, said SRA will be given only to PHWs who are directly catering to or in contact with COVID-19 patients, persons under investigation, or persons under monitoring.
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IV. OTHER MATTERS
(cont’d)1. Benefits of the PGH health workers … (cont’d) . . .
1.8 Vice President Yunque added that the PHWs assigned at the COVID-19 ward of PGH have already received the said benefit. The PGH Director has already written the DBM to ask for clarification whether those who are not directly assigned at the COVID-19 ward are eligible to receive the SRA, since those who are not directly involved in the COVID-19 ward of PGH are as vulnerable to the risk of COVID-19.
1.9 Since the issue has been addressed by PGH by writing a request for clarification to DBM, President Concepcion suggested that it is best to wait for the response of the DBM to the said request.
1.10 Vice President Bersales informed the Board that the requests for the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and the Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) for those employees eligible to receive the SRA, in the amount of P17.45M, was already submitted to DBM.
Board Action: NOTED
2. Update on the CNA negotiations
2.1 Regent Guillermo requested for an update on the schedule of negotiations with the academic union for the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA).
2.2 President Concepcion reminded the Board about the Observation Report issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) regarding the validity of the CNAs and the inclusion of economic benefits in the CNAs. He said that COA is questioning the 5-year validity of the CNAs for the two (2) unions saying that the prescribed period of validity for CNAs under the rules set by the Public Sector Labor Management Council (PSLMC) of the Civil Service Commission is only three (3) years. Further, COA is also questioning the inclusion of non-negotiable economic benefits like rice subsidy and grocery allowance in the CNAs which are not allowed under existing laws.
2.3 He said that the University has already written COA regarding its position, and a formal query has been made on the matters in the COA Observation Report. However, his office has not yet received a response from COA due to the lockdown. He added that if the response of COA to the formal query is favorable, then the University shall continue with the usual process, but if the response is in the negative, then the UP Administration shall discuss options with the two unions.
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IV. OTHER MATTERS
(cont’d). . .
2. Update on the CNA negotiations (cont’d) . . .
2.4 Regent Guillermo thanked President Concepcion for the update but requested Vice President Yunque to inform the unions of the actions of the University in relation to the CNA for better understanding. Without such information, the impression from the ground is that it is taking long for the University to make a counter proposal.
2.5 Vice President Yunque said that the first meeting with the All UP Workers Union on the CNA has already been set and he has been coordinating via email with Prof. Carl Marc Ramota, the National President of the All UP Academic Employees Union, regarding the schedule of the meeting.
Board Action: NOTED
3. Teaching Enhancement Grant
3.1 President Concepcion explained that based on the result of the initial needs assessment conducted with students, faculty, REPS, and administrative staff, the two important things needed to smoothly transition to remote and flexible learning are: 1) devices/gadgets and 2) internet connectivity. To help them cope with the shift to remote learning, the possibility of offering the following subsidies are being looked into:
For the faculty: P1,500/month internet subsidy; P6,000/month device subsidy; and Interest-free computer loan of up to P50,000 (c/o Provident Fund)
For REPS and Administrative Staff: The Unit Heads will determine who among the REPS and Administrative Staff will be needing the internet subsidy. Device and computers in the office may be utilized for use at home, if needed. The computer loan will be subject to existing laws on salary deduction.
3.2 For the students, President Concepcion said that they are considering subsidizing students belonging to the Full Discount with Stipend (FDS) category of the Socialized Tuition System (STS). FDS students are students from households with annual income of less than P85,000. They will be allotted an internet subsidy of P1,500/month and a device subsidy of P1,700/month. The UP System administration is in discussion with the Smart Communications and Globe Telecoms, the country’s two leading telecommunications companies (TELCOs) on how this can be done.
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IV. OTHER MATTERS
(cont’d) . . .
3. Teaching Enhancement Grant (cont’d) . . .
3.3 President Concepcion said that he already instructed the Vice President for Planning and Finance to gather the exact number of qualified students, faculty, REPS, and administrative staff in order to have an estimate of the total cost to the University of this initiative. He said that the final proposal will be presented to the Board at a special briefing of the members of the Board of Regents to be scheduled when the final proposal is ready.
3.4 Regent Jimenez inquired if the University has a provision for UPCAT passers who want to defer enrollment due to the COVID-19 situation. President Concepcion replied in the negative. He said that if an UPCAT passer did not enroll, s/he will not be allowed to take another UPCAT. The only way for him/her to enter UP is to enroll in another university and then transfer to UP after earning a certain number of units, or to enroll in non-degree programs not requiring UPCAT such as the certificate programs in the College of Music and College of Fine Arts.
3.5 President Concepcion that if there is really a valid reason for deferring enrollment, a student may appeal to the Chancellor, and from the Chancellor to the University Council, then to the President then to the BOR. Vice President Bautista confirmed that there is no policy in the University for deferment unlike other universities in the ASEAN Region that are accepting deferment because of the COVID-19 situation. If the student applies as a special case then that will become a waiver of the rules that will require BOR approval.
3.6 Regent Pedrano sought clarification whether the funding for the teaching and learning subsidy will come from the UP System or from the CUs. President Concepcion said that, as a matter of procedure, he will pool all available resources of the University to check how much can be allotted for this initiative.
3.7 According to Regent Guillermo, the best package for the faculty, REPS, and administrative staff is the combination of the no-interest computer loan and the subsidy for internet connectivity and gadget accessories needed for remote learning. President Concepcion said he will see what best package to offer given the limited resources of the University.
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IV. OTHER MATTERS
(cont’d) . . .
3. Teaching Enhancement Grant (cont’d) . . .
3.8 Regent Jimenez informed the Board that his friends have a program which asks for donations of old laptops and computers to some students in Rizal.
They are also collecting their own old laptops and computers for upgrading by IT experts for use by some UP students. President Concepcion said that under the “Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral” campaign of the UP System, computer specifications will be posted in the UP Website so that students or faculty who are looking for specific computer requirements may apply to avail of any such available device.
3.9 On the concern of Regent Jimenez regarding software applications and security issues, President Concepcion said he will bring the matter of security issues with the ITDC.
Board Action: NOTED
4. On the holdover term of the Student Regent
4.1 Regent Punzalan hoped to receive a response from the Office of the President regarding his holdover status. He requested that the resolution of the General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC) on the matter be given due attention.
4.2 President Concepcion said that there should be a legal basis for any action of the Board on the matter. He committed to resolve the matter the soonest possible time.
Board Action: NOTED
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