Today, March 1 marks the last day of the three-year term of Dr. Fidel Nemenzo as the 11th Chancellor of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman.
Nemenzo will remain in holdover capacity until Thursday, March 2. On Friday, incumbent UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ma. Theresa Payongayong will serve as the constituent university’s Officer-in-Charge “until a new Chancellor has been appointed by the Board of Regents (BOR) and assumes office,” according to a memorandum by UP President Angelo Jimenez dated Monday.
As OIC, Payongayong’s duties and responsibilities shall include all matters involving UP Diliman’s personnel, finances, and students. She can also sign certain contracts and travel authorities as well as process applications and appeals for loans.
“All matters concerning disciplinary cases, appeals, policy formulation, and infrastructure projects should only be acted upon by the Chancellor,” the memo read.
Meanwhile, UP Diliman’s current Vice Chancellors shall continue to hold office until the appointment of their replacements by the BOR upon recommendation of the next Chancellor.
It was only in January when immediate past University President Danilo Concepcion instituted a search process for UP Diliman’s next chief official. Jimenez then extended the selection process until April 27 from March 30.
Stakeholders will have until Friday to hand in their nominations for the chancellorship. On Monday, the search committee will announce the list of nominees. A public forum for the nominees is scheduled on March 20 at the Institute of Biology Auditorium.
Nominees must be Filipino citizens “with a strong nationalist commitment” and possess, among others, commitment to academic freedom and “distinction in the nominee’s chosen field of expertise coupled with a generalist view and an appreciation of other disciplines.”
So far, only Nemenzo has publicly signified his intention to run.