UP defends age requirement in choosing next president

MANILA, Philippines – The University of the Philippines yesterday defended the age requirement that it set for candidates for the next UP president.

UP said the Board of Regents (BOR)  – the university’s highest policy-making body – had set the age requirement in a resolution passed in 1961.

“The age limit of 70 years old has been in existence since June 14, 1961. Such age limit was last observed during the time of UP president Francisco Nemenzo who was elected for a term of  six years (from Aug.6 1999 to Aug.5 2005), but had to resign upon reaching the age of 70 on Feb.9, 2005, a few months before the expiration of his term,” the statement read.

“There are general legislations that provide for the age limit of 70 years old. For instance, the Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997 states that the term of the President of a state college or university may be extended beyond the age of retirement (65 years old), but not later than the age of 70 years old,” it added.

The university issued the statement following criticisms over the disqualification of four candidates, notably UP Diliman chancellor Michael Tan, from the selection process due to the age requirement.

Other nominees who were disqualified include former UP Diliman Department of English and Comparative Literature chairperson Consolacion Alaras, former senator Orlando Mercado and former UP Diliman chancellor Roger Posadas.

Last Saturday, the BOR accepted the nomination of six nominees for the top university post.

They include UP Diliman College of Law dean Danilo Conception, UP vice president for administration Gisela Conception, and former UP vice president for public affairs and Commission on Higher Education chairperson Prospero De Vera.

Also accepted were the nominations of former UP Diliman College of Science dean and Department of Science and Technology undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara, UP vice president for research and development Benito Pacheco and former UP Diliman chancellor Caesar Saloma.

In a statement following his disqualification, Tan branded the age requirement as “discriminatory and perhaps even illegal.”

However, Tan said he would not take further action and urged his supporters to remain calm.