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University of the Philippines Baguio starts 4-day class/work week

Due to increasing expenses

BAGUIO CITY (Nov. 15) — Today marks the first day of adjustment for the employees and students of the University of the Philippines Baguio. The 4-day workweek policy takes into full implementation. Effective since November 8, the offices of the university had modified their schedules to comply with the memorandum signed by Chancellor Priscilla Supnet-Macansantos.

According to UP Baguio’s official newspaper Outcrop, the University of the Philippines Administration issued two separate memoranda to all departments and Constituent Universities (CU’s) to take part in the conservation of energy. This includes the policy on having a four-day class/work week for all CU’s starting this semester.

The first memorandum dated August 22, 2005, UP President Ermelinda R. Roman reiterated President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s ‘challenge to all government agencies to take lead in the country’s efforts to save energy’. Subsequently Roman ordered chancellors of UP CU’s to implement carpooling, use of energy-saving lamps, four-day class/work weeks, among others.

The other memorandum dated September 7, Vice President for Administration Martin V. Gregorio called on all UP units to prohibit unauthorized personnel with no official business to enter UP offices after regular working hours, during holidays and weekends, among other austerity measures.

UPB’s Student Council (USC) chairperson Echo Quijada said that last September 6 Chancellor Macansantos called him to inform students of the policy on 4-day work/class week. The Council of Leaders (CL) chairperson Borky Perida was also called upon. They were asked to bring together their comments and positions regarding the policy. The directive was to follow suit on or before the Executive Staff meeting on September 12. [The Excutive staff consists of the following: Chancellor, Vice Chancellor for Administration, Vice Chancellor for Academic Afairs, directors and college deans.]

“The directive was not actually solely for austerity measures. It was intended for pedagogical considerations. They (UPB administration) said that the teachers lobbied to have 1.5 hours per subject since onehour is not enough. Parang nabibitin ung momentum daw ng pagtuturo,” Quijada clears.

Their (USC and CL) statement read that the policy would defeat its purpose of energy-saving since there were previous student issues on democratic rights, one of which is allowing them usage of school facilities even on weekends and holidays. Another is that the physio-sociological effect of such policy to students. “Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, pero mabigat ang UP load [acedemic units]. Ung bio (biology students) for example, may isang subject silang five hours. How much more kung four days na lang ang klase?” Quijada explains. Moreover, he said that the interests of the student organizations may be paralyzed since classes for this semester would run from 7am to 7pm.

The statement met its deadline of 12 noon, September 12. However, a miscommunication occurred when Quijada passed their paper at the Chancellor’s office. The Executive Staff meeting was already on-going. They thought that their statement would be no longer accepted.

The next day, there was a dialogue between the academe and the USC and CL. Quijada tried to pass their statement and Chancellor Macansantos accepted it. There was another scheduled Executive Staff meeting including Quijada, as he asked there should be student representation in the said staff. [UP Baguio is the only unit that has student representation in the Executive Staff.]

September 14 marks another deliberation for the USC and CL. They were asked to pool opinions of students to which the ‘free day’ would fall on. The deadline was of the same day at 3 pm. A Student Assembly was held. Voting for Monday as a free day came up with 125; for Wednesday-126. However, Wednesday still did not win since one point was ‘statiscally a marginal error’ and ‘insignificant to speak for what the students really want’. Besides, most students were not able to vote because it was examinations period.

Quijada appealed for a status quo of schedules regarding the 4-day class/work week. The UPB library will be open from Monday to Saturday, 8A.M. to 6P.M. The Learning Resource Center (LRC) will open from Monday to Friday, 8A.M. to 12 noon; 1P.M. to 5P.M. Medical officers would be available the same schedule as the LRC; the dentist- Mon/Wed/ Fri 8am to 12nn and Tues/Thu 8am to 10am, 1pm to 3pm; the nurse- Tuesday to Friday 7:30 am to 12 nn, 1pm to 6:30pm.

As for other facilities, rooms in the so-called 20’s would be open Saturdays and Mondays from 8am to 5pm; the rooms in the Iskolar ng Bayan building (so-called IB’s) would be open from 8am to 9pm. On regular days (Tuesdays to Fridays), the 20’s will be open until 7pm; the IB’s open until 9pm.*

A random survey was conducted to gather reactions from the UPB community. This was to see if there were any immediate effects on the students. The students’ reaction was divided almost evenly between pro-Monday, con-Monday.

Students residing in nearby provinces such as La Union and Pangasinan said that it was a plus for them since they could extend their ‘vacation’ in their homes, with their families.

Abel Quintos, a 4th year BA Social Science Economics-Political Science major, said that there is not much difference in his schedule. It was more convenient for him since it left Monday free for doing his paper requirements. A member of the UP Debate Society, he said, “This (‘Monday free day’) gives a very positive impact (for us) to train the whole day. Dati sa Wednesday, half day free lang, di enough. One whole day is healthy for the organizations, I think,” he says. He also believes that the earlier start of classes (7am) motivates him, and perhaps other students, to become more responsible. There may be repercussions, but for him UPB people can adapt to this in the future. “Maganda siyang i-try. It’s an opportunity to develop more,” he concludes.

In another light, some students think this is a harder set-up. Some say, “Masyadong matagal ang break, mawawala yung momentum mo.” One Math major said that regarding their problem sets, the ideal timeframe is to have at least 2 days in between their math major subjects. “Paano magagawa yung two problem sets sa 4 days na due din within the week, e minsan one problem set needs 2-3 days?,” he laments.

A 2nd year BS Biology student said, “Void rin ang free day.pareho lang kasi mabigat pa rin (academic units) dahil marami kaming experiments. Kung Mondays gagawin for exams, saan namin isisingit sked (schedule) namin for group meets (for experiments)?”

Marrisse Garchitorena, a 1st year BA Social Sciences Social Anthropology-Pyschology major says that another adjustment makes it harder for her. “Kaka-college ko pa lang, freshie pa lang ako, so nag-aadjust pa lang. Tapos 2nd semester pa lang, adjustment na naman. Ang hirap mag-balance ng time.”

Aleeyah, Karla and Matriank, all 4th year graduating students of different courses, said that the sudden change of schedule made it harder for them to adjust since this is their last semester. “Graduating na kami, so may thesis na. Oo, siguro may extra hours for data gathering pero paano mo pa rin imi-meet ang adviser mo kung mahirap hagilapin sa four days. Usually advisers have arduous teaching loads. How can both parties juggle time? At saka, patay na orgs (organizations) namin,” they professed.

Camille Tijamo, a 3rd year BA Speech Communication major and chairperson of the Alliance of Concerned Students (ACS) said that this semester’s new schedule made it harder for students to slate a relatively convenient line up of subjects. “Lalo na sa CAC (College of Communication and Arts), isang subject, isa lang ang offer dahil hindi na alam kung saan isisiksik ang room assignments. Pag nag-petition naman, mahirap i-approve dahil nga kulang din naman sa rooms. Sa amin, agawan talaga ng subjects. Plus, the effect of this on the students. Paano yung (memory) retention? Malaki ang tendency ng pagkawala ng mga inaral kung mahaba ang weekend. At sa pagsisiksik sa isa’t kalahating oras ng iisang reading (material, masyadong mabigat, tapos magkakasunod pang apat na araw na ganun ang mangyayari. Kawawa talaga ang mga estudyante.” She also discussed the possible ‘paralysis’ of student organizational activities since students would rather go down than spend their Mondays in school just to participate in some organization’s activity. “Paano gagalaw ang organization kung walang ibang estudyante? Dito kasi sa UP, you need activities to be recognized as a full-fledged body in the school. Paano nga magco-conduct ng activities kung wala namang pupunta?,” she explicates.

Choi Pangilinan, already in his 4th year as a Filipino instructor of CAC, says that the style is alright. However, it would be better if the free day were Wednesday. “Good intentions na maging 1.5 hours per subject kaya lang cramped at streamlining talaga.” He also has the same sentiments that the students are prone to going down, questioning how they would do their tasks if they stayed home relaxing instead of studying; the sustainability of rigorous readings is hard to retain the students’ memory.

Pangilinan also says that the policy was just a ‘paper’. According to him, there was no clear discussion in the instructor level. “Dapat dumaan ito sa assessment. Di dapat nanggaling lang sa taas (administration). Students ang pinakanaapektuhan,” he concludes.

Pen Facunla from the Student Affairs Office-Office of Student Financial Affairs and chairperson of All-UP Workers Union (AUWU)-UPB, says that she now has more time to do other things at home. However, she still has a hard time adjusting since she resides inside the Philippine Military Army (PMA) premises. She has to be on the shuttle bus with the schedule of only 6A.M. and 6P.M.

She explains one more disadvantage, “When a holiday falls on a Monday, you have the privilege to enjoy it, then the following day, sana 8-5 lang kami. Kasi nga wala naman talaga kaming pasok ng Monday. May sulat na kami (AUWU) kay Chancellor (Macansantos) at wala namang written rule ng Civil Service na dapat regular working hours kami the day after a holiday. Sana to compensate lang (the lost hours of rest). Lugi kami. If it’s on a Wednesday at halimbawa holiday ang Monday, dalawa sana ang days off namin.”

This issue holds a lot of speculations as the start of implementation is just in its first days. “Chancellor (Macansantos) said that they are open to adjustments. We just have to prepare the complaint/s. Since this is only an experimental semester, the complaints, if there would be any, would be accumulated and assessed after this semester,” Quijada concluded. # Pink-Jean Fangon Melegrito for NORDIS

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