UP MINDANAO BULLETIN

1 - 15 July 2020

UP MINDANAO COVID-19 CASE SURVEY

There are no new or additional responses to the existing Student Tracking Survey, having remained at 384 responses. The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) will coordinate renewed efforts by student bloc leaders.

HRDO will send out the second round of the health and well-being survey for personnel, as part of regular monitoring activities.

GUIDELINES FOR WORK

Everyone is reminded to remain vigilant against COVID-19 infection, as reiterated in Memorandum No. LND 2020-061.https://bit.ly/37XIF3y. Additional guidelines for work will be released in consideration of the health and safety of all those who physically report for work and, by extension, their families.

UPDATE ON STRANDED STUDENTS

As of early July, four (4) students remain under the stewardship of the OSA and have updated travel documents as advised by the partner government agencies. The student from Palawan (1) is still awaiting the opening of their airport and final travel arrangements/instructions from the Office of Civil Defense, the agency in-charge of this assistance. Meanwhile, the student from Cebu (1) won't be able to travel anytime soon since he could not be issued a Travel Authority by the Davao City Police Office due to the current COVID-19 infection rate and Enhanced Community Quarantine status in their city. The two (2) students from Zamboanga have expressed their intention to remain in Davao City for now. The students are in sound mental and physical health while remaining in touch with their parents. 

UP MINDANAO COVID-19 INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS

PGC Mindanao assigned as training provider

In June, Philippine Genome Center Mindanao was assigned by DOH as a training provider for Hands-On PCR Training in Mindanao, alongside the UP National Institutes of Health in Manila and the Philippine Genome Center in Diliman and the Visayas. Consequently, personnel from medical centers in Butuan and Zamboanga cities availed of training in the PGC Mindanao labs in June, and personnel from General Santos City in July.  

COVID-19 Isolation Facilities

Two campus buildings are now in full operation as COVID-19 "We Heal As One" isolation centers under the management of the Davao City government. Since June, the Training Gym has accommodated persons during their waiting period between the COVID-19 testing and the arrival of the test results. The memorandum of agreement between UP Mindanao, the City Government, and DPWH-XI will expire on 20 July 2020, but Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte requested UP Mindanao for the renewal of the agreement in a letter dated 17 June 2020. UP Mindanao ExeCom approved the Mayor’s request on 25 June 2020. The University has requested updates from the LGU, including what has been done in the quarantine facilities, e.g., implementation of health protocols/ disinfection and numbers of transients accommodated.

City Hospital Proposal

The UP System Executive Committee composed of the university president and vice presidents convened online on 6 July 2020 to hear updates on the proposed hospital project from Chancellor Digal. Following the meeting, the chancellor extended an invitation to Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa to be a technical consultant for the proposed project.

EVP Herbosa is a medical doctor and is currently an adviser to the National Task Force on COVID-19 headed by Secretary Carlito Galvez. He served as Undersecretary of the Department of Health from 2010 to 2015 and as Coordinator of Foreign Medical Teams in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. He is also an associate of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine, the Johns Hopkins University, and the WHO Safe Surgery Saves Lives Task Force. In UP, he started the Fellowship Program for Trauma and Residency Program in Emergency Medicine. 

In an update, UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla has also mobilized her team to help in the proposed hospital project, as well as the medical program and related activities.

UP Mindanao’s interest in the proposal is consistent with its mandates and strategic plan which includes a proposed College of Medicine, a Mindanao Center for Infectious Diseases, and the upgrading of university health and infirmary services.

For the proposed hospital, Chancellor Digal has scheduled an online town hall/consultation meeting for all UP Mindanao personnel on 21 July 2020, 1:00-3:00 P.M.

IAMDABID-Mindanao proposal

Assoc. Prof. May Anne Mata completed the detailed research & development program proposal for the proposed Mindanao Center for Interdisciplinary Applied Modeling, Data Analytics, and Biology of Infectious Diseases (IAMDABID-Mindanao) on 22 June 2020. This was submitted through channels to the DOST-Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) program for funding. The proposed IAMDABID Mindanao will work in partnership with existing disease centers/units in the country as it promotes the utilization of applied modeling, data analytics, and applied biological techniques to complement current approaches for disease surveillance, disease data analysis, and disease risk management.

Mental Health Helpline

As of 13 July 2020, 40 students and 4 employees have signed-up and were given psychological first aid by the professional partners of the OSA Mental Health Helpline.

STUDENTS: http://tiny.cc/UPMinMentalHealthHelpline

EMPLOYEES: http://tiny.cc/MentalHealthHelpline

LEARNING AND TEACHING

Faculty Referendum on Numeric Grades

A faculty referendum was undertaken on 29 June 2020 to seek a decision on the issue of whether or not to include numeric grades received by students in the 2nd Semester of AY 2019-2020 in the computation of the GWA. Some 71 faculty members were able to participate in the referendum that arrived at a decision for the “non-inclusion of the numeric grades received in the 2nd Semester of AY 2019-2020 in the computation of GWA, but students can apply for a waiver to the Chancellor requesting for exemption from this rule.” This decision was conveyed to Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Rose Bautista in a letter by Chancellor Digal and the details were conveyed to the faculty in a memo by University Registrar John Bengan. 

Town Hall Dialogue between students and the OVPAA

On 02 July 2020, more than 70 UP Mindanao students participated in the online Town Hall Dialogue with the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) that was co-organized by the OSA, the University Student Council (USC), and College Student Councils, with support from the IT Office.

Present were VPAA Cynthia Rose Bautista, Assistant VP for Student Affairs Richard Philip Gonzalo, as well as UP Mindanao Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Nilo Oponda, OSA Director Ma. Teresa Escano, and other officials.

In the session, the VP Bautista conveyed the plans for Academic Year 2020-2021, including the student support program, and spoke of the advantages of remote learning. For their part, the students shared their concerns as expressed in their college-based online student surveys, which VP Bautista addressed or noted in her replies.

Likewise, the student councils held their College-based Student Consultations on 2-3 July 2020. Their concerns were carried by the USC to the University Committee on Student Affairs (UCSA) Special Meeting on 7 July 2020 with university officials and the student councils from all UP constituent universities.  

Search for CHSS and SOM Deans

The period for nomination of candidates for dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences ended on 30 June 2020. Search Committee Chair Prof. Noreen Grace Fundador announced the nominees on 1 July 2020 as Prof. Karen Joyce G. Cayamanda, PhD (Department of Humanities), Prof. Raymundo R. Pavo, PhD (Department of Social Sciences), and Prof. Genevieve J. Quintero, PhD (Department of Humanities). The Online Public Forum, Stakeholder Consultations, and Interview of the Nominees were held on 6-10 July 2020. The submission of the committee report to Chancellor Digal is on 31 July 2020. The vision papers of the nominees may be read here: https://bit.ly/3fkvTyT

Regarding the search for dean of the School of Management, Chancellor Digal issued a memorandum on 23 June 2020 to call for nomination of personnel to constitute the search committee, to close on 3 July 2020.

Extension of application to the MS Food Science Program

The Department of Food Science and Chemistry announced that the deadline for application to the MS Food Science program is further extended to 29 July 2020 given the postponement of the start of classes to September 2020.

The 23rd Commencement Exercises

The Ad Hoc Committee for the 23rd Commencement Exercises (a virtual event) was constituted on 2 July 2020. Chancellor Digal instructed the committee to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the activity, scheduled on 30 July 2020, especially because it will be a first for UP Mindanao.

WRITE-XI

Professors Vic Calag and Vladimer Kobayashi have volunteered as course pack developers for the Commission on Higher Education-XI project "Working on Resilience and Innovation for Teaching Excellence in Region XI" (WRITE-XI). They are among the 664 volunteers from 58 HEIs who will write up on 145 courses (source: CHED-XI). IT-related courses have the most number of volunteers, which includes Prof. Calag, who will write on Object-oriented Programming and Fundamentals of Database Systems, and Prof. Kobayashi, who will write on Advanced Database Systems.

Activities began with the Webinar Series on Instructional Designing and Course Pack Development for Flexible Learning on 7-9 July 2020. Training on Learning Management Systems is on 27 July/3-7 August 2020.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

In-House Research Grants, 2020 Cycle

The Center for the Advancement of Research, development, and engagement In Mindanao (CARIM) has received a total of 12 research projects for funding under the 2020 cycle of the In-house Research Grants, with 5 of the projects approved, 4 deferred, and 3 still awaiting confirmation. The approved projects are as follows:

• Malaque IR.* “Interlocking Blocks in Social Construction of Housing: The Collaboration of Government, NGO and Urban Poor in Los Amigos Relocation Site.” (P33,800.00)
• Del Mundo DMN*, Murao LAE, Otero MCP. “Pilot Investigation on SARS CoV-2 Wastewater-Based Surveillance in Davao City” (P100,000.00)
• Acopiado IMA*, Romo GDA, Sarmiento JMP, Acuña TR. “Effect of Women Participation in Manufacturing and Service Sectors' Performance in the Philippines” (P100,000.00)
• Sarmiento JMP*, Acopiado IMA, Alviola IV PA. “Technical Efficiency of Manufacturing and Service Sectors in the Philippines: Insights from the National Enterprise” (P97,000.00)
• Romo GDA*, Acuña TR, Acopiado IMA, Sarmiento JMP, Traje AM. “Organizational Resilience during COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from the Philippine Enterprises” (P99,600.00)

* Main proponents

Technology Business Incubation (TBI) Hub

UPGRADE Technology Business Incubation is doing the construction of the TBI Hub in Kalimudan in July for its technopreneurs and business start-ups. Materials, furniture, and equipment have been procured and construction is expected to be completed within the month.

Project Update with Monde Nissin Corp.

The Polylactic Acid (PLA) project partners UP Mindanao and Monde Nissin Corp. (MNC) held their first project update meeting on 15 July 2020 via teleconferencing. The MNC panel received updates on the milestones in the conversion of cassava starch into food-grade, pharmaceutical-grade, and polymer-grade lactic acid. MNC is committed to adopting the PLA-based technology, if proven viable, that uses renewable biological resources and is biodegradable for the packaging of its food products.

Marilog Land Reservation

Twenty residents of the Marilog Land Reservation participated in the soft broom-making training that was organized by the Land Reservations Management Office and held on 8 July 2020 in the UP Mindanao Upland Training Center. The brooms will be marketed when production reaches the target quantity. The brooms are products of the tahit-i grass growing project that was undertaken as an alternative livelihood for the beneficiaries and for soil conservation in the land reservation.

INTERNATIONALIZATION

Asst. Prof. Kriza Faye Calumba’s news story, “Durian and beer turned into healthy probiotic booze by Philippine researcher,” has circulated further overseas. It was published in the hard copy of South China Morning Post (Hong Kong; average circulation: 100,000 copies) on 5 July 2020 and Chiang Rai Times (Thailand) on 10 July 2020.

Assoc. Prof. May Anne Mata presented a paper “How modelers are shaping the pandemic response in the Philippines: Milestones, challenges, and a call for collaboration” in the COVID-19 Modeling and Public Policies Session of the COVID-19 Research and Educational Meeting, organized by the Canadian Mathematical Society on 13-16 July 2020.

DONATIONS

Philippine Genome Center Mindanao thanked the various donors to its COVID-19 training project in its report of donations as of 2 July 2020. The report listed 61 lots of supplies and equipment from 29 entities: individuals, private organizations, local government units, and the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines. The list is posted here: https://bit.ly/2VWYrqn

Dear Incoming First Year Students,

Congratulations! Welcome to UP Mindanao.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

1. PRE-ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS ( July 13-31, 2020)

1. Submission of Health Declaration Form to Health Services Section

1. Fill-out the Health Declaration Form

https://www2.upmin.edu.ph/images/2020/osa/Health%20Declaration%20Form%2014.pdf

2. E-mail the Health Declaration Form to

*A medical clearance will be issued by the Health Services Section through the student’s e-mail upon receipt of the accomplished Health Declaration Form.

2. Submission of Credentials

The Office of the University Registrar will share a Student Directory Form upon receipt of the student’s medical clearance from the Health Services Section.

The following documents are needed for submission in pdf/jpeg format:

1. Admission Notice

2. Philippine Statistics Authority Birth Certificate

3. Form 137-A or Student's Secondary Permanent Records-Senior High School

4. Grade 12 Senior Year High School Card

5. 2” x 2” colored ID picture (white background)

6. Certification of Good Moral

Accomplish a provisional admission form if one or more of the abovementioned documents are unavailable for submission.. Link for the form: https://www2.upmin.edu.ph/index.php/academic-calendar-ay-2013-2014/downloadable-forms

Note: Upon resumption of face-to-face classes, all original hard copies have to be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar, First Floor, Administration Building. All original documents, except for the birth certificate, submitted to the Office of the University Registrar shall become part of your permanent record of UP in Mindanao.

2. ON-LINE ENROLLMENT (August 10-11, 2020, Advance Enrollment Period; September 9, 2020-regular enrollment)

Enrollment Form will only be e-mailed to students who complied with the submission of credentials.

Step 1. Accomplish the shared Enrollment Google Form

Step 2. The Office of the University Registrar will process enrollment through the CSRS (Computerized Students Records System).

Step 3.1. The official enrollment form or Form 5 will be e-mailed to students who opted to avail of the Free Higher Education privilege.

Step 3.2. For students who are voluntarily opting out of the Free Higher Education privilege

Step 3.2.1 Pay your tuition and other miscellaneous fees through:

Name of Bank : Development Bank of the Philippines

Account Name: UP MINDANAO REVOLVING FUND

Account Number: 0915-010307-030

Branch: Davao City

Address: Davao, C.M. Recto Branch, Davao City, Philippines

Step 3.2.2 The official enrollment form or Form 5 will be e-mailed after verification of payment from the Cash Office.

*Upon resumption of the face-to-face classes, you will be asked to sign your Form 5 certifying the correctness of its information and UP’s Privacy Notice for Students.

3. FREE TUITION

UP Mindanao shall implement RA No. 1093 known the Universal Access to Quality Education Tertiary Education Act of 2017 and its implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) that was approved and signed on 22 February 2018. The IRR of the law that provides for free college tuition and all other fees.

Opting Out of Free Tuition

UP Mindanao students may voluntarily opt out from availing the Free Tuition privilege. Should this be the decision, after submitting a dully accomplished Voluntary Opt- Out Form, the student will pay the full tuition and other fees, as his/her contribution to the University.

4. DORMITORY ACCOMODATION

UP Mindanao will implement remote learning classes for AY 2020-2021. Dormitory accommodations for long-term stay is temporarily suspended.

For further queries please contact any of the following personnel:

Ms. Alma Marcelino

Dormitory Manager

Mobile Number: 0910-1417945

Ms. Shela A. Camilotes

Residence Life Coordinator

Mobile Number: 0930-0354751

5. MEDICAL EXAMINATION

1. For Academic Year 2020-2021, incoming students are required to complete the Health Declaration Form, in lieu of the Pre-Enrollment Physical Examination and laboratory tests (urinalysis, fecalysis, CBC, and Chest X-ray):

• All First Year students must accomplish the Health Declaration Form to be downloaded from the UP Mindanao website: https://www2.upmin.edu.ph/students/downloadable and print pages 1 & 2 back to back.

• Scan (in any format) and send the Health Declaration Form to Mindanao Health Services Section through email : within the period of July 13 – 31, 2020, for validation.

• After validation, a clearance from the UP Mindanao Health Services Section will be issued to the student via email.

• Only clearance from the Health Services Section will be accepted by the Office of the University Registrar during enrollment.

2. Upon resumption of physical classes, all First Year students should undergo the complete the required Physical Examination at any health facility of choice, provided that, the Physical Examination is done by a pediatrician, family medicine or internal medicine specialist from a reputable private or government institution. Kindly submit the results to the nurse-on-duty at the:

University Clinic

Health Services Section

Elias B. Lopez Hall

Contact Number: (082) 293-0863 local 9053

3. All First Year students should submit the ORIGINAL OFFICIAL RECEIPT to the Office of the University Registrar for refund of expenses of the mandatory physical and dental laboratory tests.

4. For the conduct of the Physical Examination, take note of the following:

• The Physical and Dental Examination and laboratory work-ups which only includes Uninalysis, Fecalysis, Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Chest X-ray.

Note: If the physician / dentist requires prescription and additional laboratory test, expenses incurred must be borne by the student.

• Download UP Mindanao Physical Examination Form from:

https://www2.upmin.edu.ph/images/2020/osa/Health%20Declaration%20Form%2014.pdf

Only the official forms of UP Mindanao Physical Examination forms should be used.

• Accomplish UP Mindanao Physical Examination form signed by the examining physician / dentist with complete name and license number.

• Submit the following :

(a) laboratory results such Urinalysis, Fecalysis, CBC and Chest X ray together with the completely filled-out;

(b) UP Mindanao Physical Examination Form; and

(c) Health Declaration Form to UP Mindanao Health Services Section upon resumption of classes.

6. SCHOLARSHIPS

In addition to the higher education subsidy granted by the National Government, the University also provides other of financial assistance to qualified students. These programs provide financial support to students in need. To streamline application to these programs, UP developed the Student Financial Assistance Online (SFA Online).

The SFA Online gathers information to expedite the processing of applications from students who wish to obtain financial assistance. It is web-based program that collects data on household income as well as the socio-economic characteristics of the household of students. These data are processed to determine the financial support that match a student’s needs. Application to SFA Online shall be announced on a later date.

Students may also apply for private scholarships which are announced regularly by the Scholarships and Financial Assistance Section under the Office of Student Affairs. Screening and selection are conducted by the UP Mindanao Committee on Scholarships and Financial Assistance. Scholarships consisting of living and book subsidies are based both on financial need and academic performance. Posting of announcements and application period will start on September 10, 2020. Application forms shall be available at UP Mindanao website:

https://www2.upmin.edu.ph/students/downloadable

For scholarship inquiries, kindly reach us through the following:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/osa.upmindanao

Email:

Contact Number: (082) 293-1353

Mobile Number (063)918-918-4934

7. COUNSELING & TESTING SECTION

1. For Academic Year 2020-2021, all incoming first year students are required to fill-out/ complete the following Forms to be downloaded from the UP Mindanao Website: https://www2.upmin.edu.ph/images/2020/osa/Health%20Declaration%20Form%2014.pdf

These forms are as follows:

1.1 Student Cumulative Information File (SCIF)

1.2 Basic Information Sheet (BIS)

1.3 DASS - self-report scales on emotional states

2. Please attach one copy of 2x2 colored ID Picture to be placed at SCIF (Student Cumulative Information File)

3. Scan and submit (in any format) a copy of Certificate of good moral character from Senior High School.

Submit and send those filled-out forms and documents through this email: starting July 13 until August 13, 2020.

For inquiries, kindly reach us through the following:

Email:

Land line Number: (082) 293-1353

Mobile Number 09324854316