(Photo by DBM)
MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the conversion of 179 part-time faculty positions into regular posts at the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila and confirmed the eligibility of the entire UP System for the fiscal year 2024 Performance-Based Bonus (PBB).
DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert de Leon announced the developments during his visit to UP Manila on Friday, October 9.
De Leon said five additional faculty positions were also reclassified to reflect their updated full-time status.
The move aims to provide greater job security for university educators while recognizing the contributions of faculty members and personnel across the UP System.
“You can expect to receive your FY (fiscal year) 2024 Performance-Based Bonus before the end of this year,” De Leon said.
“If we want students to have a better future, we must also take better care of the people preparing them for that future,” he added.
During his visit, De Leon inspected two major training facilities: the College of Medicine’s Surgical Knowledge Intensive Learning Laboratory thru Simulation (SKILLS) and the College of Nursing’s Skills and Simulation Laboratory.
The facilities provide medical and nursing students with practical training through specialized equipment and simulated clinical environments.
The College of Nursing’s Php 45.8-million simulation laboratory features high-fidelity medical manikins and training rooms capable of accommodating 40 participants each.
Meanwhile, the College of Medicine’s SKILLS facility can accommodate up to 100 people and supports surgical and procedural training using cadavers, endoscopic equipment, operating microscopes and digital anatomy dissection tables.
De Leon emphasized that investments in modern educational facilities should be accompanied by stronger support for teachers and university personnel.
“Free tuition opens the door. Quality education determines how far our students can go once they enter,” he said.
UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee welcomed the government’s continued support, saying it strengthens the university’s education, research and healthcare programs.
As the country’s National Health Sciences Center, UP Manila plays a key role in training healthcare professionals, conducting medical research and providing specialized medical services through the Philippine General Hospital.
De Leon said the DBM initiatives support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to improving access to quality higher education and strengthening public institutions.
“Our job is to turn public resources into public results. Every peso invested in education should create an opportunity, strengthen an institution, improve a service, or change a life,” he said.
The DBM reiterated its commitment to ensuring that public investments in education translate into better learning opportunities, improved institutional capacity and stronger support for educators.
