Mayor Honey Lacuna clarified that the University of Manila (UM) is a private school, is not being run by the city government of Manila and is different from the Universidad de Manila (UdM) and the Pamantasan ng Maynila (PLM).
The clarification was made by Lacuna in an effort to thwart fake news which she says her political opponents have apparently mastered, stressing that the PLM and the UdM are the only two universities which are being run by the Manila local government where, as mayor, she serves as chair of the boards of regents.
The pronouncement was prompted by an announcement made by the UM’s Legal Education Board regarding the closure of its College of Law due to its “dismal performance” in bar examinations, failure to meet prescribed curriculum and academic standards for legal education and deficiencies in facilities and resources.
The clarification is necessary as some unscrupulous political opponents may use the UM situation to make it appear that the said college is being operated by the city of Manila and pin the failures cited on our administration, the mayor said.
“We are fully aware and it is also public knowledge that our opponents do employ dirty tactics and hinge their campaign on fake news, disinformation and misinformation due to apparent lack of solid programs and lack of legitimate issues against our administration,” she added.
She stressed thatd while the city is currently struggling due to the P7.8 billion debt left behind by Isko Moreno, efficient fiscal management still enabled her administration to subsidize PLM to the tune of P344.155 million and P459.35 million for the UDM, even as it also earned for the city its first Seal of Good Local Governance in the city’s over 450-year history.
Lacuna also said that through the joint efforts of the city and the Office of Congressman Rolan Valeriano (2nd district), the first ever annex of the UDM will soon rise in the first district of Tondo where most students come from.
In addition, PLM and UDM students receive P1,000 in monthly financial assistance as part of the city’s social amelioration program which also provides the same amount of monthly cash aid for senior citizens and P500 monthly fors olo parents and persons with disablity (PWDs) as well as minors with disability (MWDs).
The other major accomplishments of Lacuna’s administration when it comes to the education aspect include the following: new public libraries in Paco and Sta. Cruz and construction of new public school buildings, namely Guerrero building at the Aurora A. Quezon Elementary School, V. Mapa High School building, Isabelo Delos Reyes Elementary School and Emilio Jacinto Elementary School. Apart from new courses offered at the PLM and UdM, their graduates are also being given P2,000 cash as graduation gift.
