DILG, UP to undertake thorough review of 1992 Agreement

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 7, 2021): DILG, UP to undertake thorough review of 1992 Agreement (By Jerome Carlo R. Paunan)

CALOOCAN CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police, and the University of the Philippines (UP) released a joint statement on Friday expressing the parties’ mutual commitment to review the 1992 Agreement while upholding academic freedom and the right to free speech and assembly.

The DILG and UP said they will undertake a thorough review of the 28-year-old 1992 Agreement to better address peace and security inside UP campuses without curtailing academic freedom and right to free speech and assembly.

DILG Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and Undersecretary Bernardo C. Florece, Jr. said the meeting with UP officials was a welcome development because both parties agreed that there is a need to review the 1992 Agreement to update it to present times.

“Our meeting with UP officials led by President Danilo L. Concepcion and UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo is a good start since both sides agree that both our agencies only have the best interests of the UP community in mind. Kami po sa DILG ay lubhang nagagalak sa development na ito,” Florece said.

He said that revisiting the provisions stated in the 1992 UP-DILG Agreement is important because while ‘it has served its purpose in the past, it now needs to be updated.’ He said that the agreement will be reviewed with the assurance that it will not, in any way, diminish basic rights and the freedom of speech and assembly in UP which are Constitutionally protected and enshrined.

“Ang DILG po ay kakampi ng UP at ng lahat ng unibersidad sa pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan at kaayusan sa loob ng kanilang mga paaralan,” he added.

The creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of representatives of both parties was suggested by the DILG. The TWG will undertake the review of the agreement and recommend whether to simply amend the 1992 agreement or come up with an entirely new agreement.

“UP and DILG have a common purpose which is to the peace and security of all UP campuses. These propositions are not placed to put a wall between us but to unite both our organizations to achieve our common goals,” he said.

In the meeting, UP President Concepcion replied that “We would like to make it of record that UP is committed to honor and enforce the Accord. If the Accord needs to be updated, we are prepared to sit down with the DILG and PNP to dialogue and to come up with another one that will reflect what is happening on the ground.”

“Maraming salamat sa DILG at PNP at asahan ninyo ang aming pakikipagtulungan para lahat po ng issues ay ating malapatan ng lunas,” he added.

“Sa bahagi ng DILG, may mga ilan po tayong mga nakita na maaari nating baguhin sa 1992 Agreement upang lalo pang mapangalagaan ang ating mga Isko at Iska sa UP. Kaya naman kami ay umaasa nang malalimang pakiisa ng UP tungo sa hangaring ito,” Florece said.

The meeting which was held at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City was attended by Florece, Usec. Jonathan Malaya, Asec Manny Felix, PLtGen Joselito Veracruz, QCPD Director PBGen Danilo Macerin, UP President Concepcion, UP VP Elena Pernia, UPD Chancellor Nemenzo, UPD Vice Chancellor Aleli Bawagan, and Director John S. Baroña. (PIA NCR)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1066167