This interview with UP presidential nominee Salvador B. Belaro Jr. was conducted by the Collegian editorial board on November 17. This has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Philippine Collegian (PC): You have long been separated from the university since you graduated. Why did you accept the nomination to become the 22nd university president?

Belaro: I accepted the nomination because I want to serve the university. I owe so much to UP. My story showed that everything that I have right now is traceable to my UP education. I want to thank UP for the goodness it has brought to my life, from being a probinsyano to being a congressman. Perhaps a UP presidency which is aware of all these vicissitudes, all these ramifications, all these nuances would be able to bring out the best in UP at this time.

PC: Speaking of access, you plan to expand UP’s diversity, in terms of admission. How do you plan to diversify UP’s student mix?

Belaro: It’s a whole package. My vision for the studentry is from admission to graduation. And even to job-seeking, you should have a nurturing environment which should be made possible by UP. the UP charter, we are mandated to be inclusive, we are mandated to also come out with procedures by which to ensure such inclusivity. That proposal of 10 students per barangay is only a proposal, it could be modified. I also think that we need to review the socialized tuition system to be reflective of current economic needs.

PC: You also plan on expanding the UP community’s health benefits and utilize the UP Philippine General Hospital for that purpose. How, then, will you improve and expand PGH given?

Belaro: The core issue there is the budget. I have no choice. Under the UP charter, it is mandated that we can have joint ventures, we are mandated to maximize all our assets, and I think the incoming UP administration has no choice but to use that. That is why we need a president who can produce budget, and who can navigate the maze in seeking the annual budget. And I personally believe that my seat in Congress helped me, because when I was there, I was assistant majority leader, and I know how the budget system works.

PC: Do you think the free tuition policy isn’t enough? You were one of the law’s authors.

Belaro: We need more scholarships. Because of existing policies in the university, some students who really are deserving still cannot make it. For instance, if you are a probinsyano, you have to think of the living costs in the university, so that's where scholarships would be more effective.

PC: Expanding scholarships need money. How do you intend to generate resources for UP?

Belaro: We need not go far beyond the UP charter.  It is not a matter of values, it is not a matter of priorities, it is a matter of duty. What you have to do. You have to follow the charter. That is my call. So it's not a matter of imposing your own values, it's not a matter of imposing your own priorities.

PC: You said in your vision paper that UP must consider getting funding from private sources like public-private partnership projects. What do you exactly mean?

Belaro: We have this problem: we don't have money. UP is very expansive, it has eight constituent units. How do you finance that? We have no choice but to generate money. And if you don't generate resources, you will be doing a disservice to your duty as UP president. Pinabayaan mo eh. Yun dapat ang maintindihan natin. There's nothing wrong about investment, as long as it's in accordance with the mandates of the university. May mga lands tayo. Ano gagawin natin sa mga lands natin? Maximize it. Ba't ayaw niyong gamitin? Nakatiwangwang.

PC: So, are you saying that we are going to have to utilize idle resources of the university so long as they do not go against the university's mandate in the UP charter? 

Belaro: Yes, because that is your obligation. If you don't do that, charges can be filed against you in the Ombudsman because you did not do your job.

PC: Do you commit to not allow the displacement of UP communities without concrete plans for their relocation?

Belaro: Well, it's not a question of siding with communities. We have to put it into proper context. The squatters' problem has been there since 1950s, hanggang ngayon meron pa rin. What have we done? These lands are precious resources, crown jewels of the university. They are situated in areas where the price of the land is very high.

Let's come out with our social reengineering schemes for all these lands of UP which have informal settlers. Other than that, if you don't do anything, you will have another decade—it's useless, the university does not profit from it.

PC: What are the major changes that you plan to implement in the university?

Belaro: Ang gusto ko maging hallmark ng administration kung ako'y mapipili ay I want to strengthen the public university mandate of UP. May perception kasi ngayon na parang ang ginagawa lang ng mga taga-UP ay nagra-rally lang for the sake of rallies, which is not true. This is my proposal: Under the charter, we are mandated to become a public service university, so we really have to expand our extension services. For example, if you’re an agriculture student, go to the countryside and teach them the latest technology.

PC: Your plans will only materialize if the entire UP community has your backing. What kind of relationship do you plan on forging with your constituents?

Belaro: Consensus and collaboration. That should be the basis for any relationship. But the administration should take the leadership. And, may I add, innovation. This is really a time that we have to think not just outside the box but outside the box, but without the box, and we create our box—so many boxes—for the eight constituent units of the UP System.

PC: In relation to that, what are your priority issues?

Belaro: As primarily a teaching university, we need to maintain being the number one. We need to train the faculty members of other universities. I propose sa graduate school, tanggalin na yung mga mahigpit na maximum residency rules, especially for working professionals. Walang problema kung dadagdagan mo yung mga bigat ng mga kurso, pero pabilisin mo naman. Cut to the chase of the program.

PC: Who among the five other nominees will you select to be the next UP president?

Belaro: I would go for Atty. Angelo Jimenez. He has legal experience and global experience, and he is a former student leader. UP is the national university. You cannot lead something you have no experience on. ●