Manila Councilors pass resolutions to stabilize PLM amid possible CHED delistment

Expressing their concerns over Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM)’s possible delisting as a Unified Financial Assistance System (UniFAST) beneficiary, Manila City Councilors passed Resolutions No. 435 and No. 436, s. 2023, focusing on Leyco’s appointment and organizing a board of visitors in PLM, Sept. 21. 

Resolution No. 435 ratified the withdrawal of the City Council of Manila’s concurrence on the appointment of PLM President Emmanuel A. Leyco as a member of the PLM Board of Regents. Being a member of the Board of Regents is prerequisite to the position of University President.

In light of this withdrawal, Resolution No. 436 convenes the board of visitors—composed of the City Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and all Honorable Members of the 12th City Council—to make recommendations and oversee the adoption of proper courses of action with regard to pertinent matters of the University. The resolution, however, did not specify its length of effectivity.

Leyco was appointed as a member of the Board of Regents for a fixed term of six years, which was previously approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Maynila through Resolution No. 73, s. 2019. The said appointment was revoked by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) - NCR on Feb. 13, 2020, due to Leyco’s failure to meet the educational requirements for the position. Despite an appeal, the CSC-NCR confirmed the invalidation on Jan. 18, 2022.

The City Council reiterated that PLM benefits from UniFAST under RA 10687, receiving an annual funding of 1.2 billion pesos as a government subsidy. To this date, there has been no information if the CHED has already recommended to the UniFAST governing board the delisting of PLM. 

Leyco’s claim that PLM is not a LUC nor State University and College (SUC), and is a chartered university has no legal basis as per the City Council. Higher Educational Institutions such as PLM are classified either as a LUC or SUC, and there is no classification such as chartered universities as invoked by Leyco, they added. 

In a previous session of the City Council last Aug. 29, District 6 Councilor Elmer "Joel" M. Par called for an immediate response and filed a resolution noting that the CHED previously warned PLM that the University might be “delisted” as a beneficiary of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) Act and the lack of a doctorate degree is an alleged violation of the requirements to be recognized as a subsidy recipient under the law.