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By Rommel C. Lontayao, Reporter
The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) has
undergone significant improvements since Lawyer Adel Tamano was
appointed president of the institution.
During Tuesday night’s presentation of his
accomplishment report, Tamano, spokesman of the United Opposition,
said that the university’s administration is now making good use
of every centavo it gets from the city government, resulting in many
improvements for the institution.
“Mayor [Alfredo] Lim is providing us with
enough funds, so why don’t we use it for the improvement of the
university,” he said.
Tamano said the previous administration of PLM
failed in providing students with better learning facilities, and
the faculty and employees with better compensation.
The previous university administration, under
Dr. Benjamin Tayabas, even faced controversies on alleged misuse of
funds, as uncovered by the Commission on Audit.
Improvements in the university
Tamano, who assumed the presidency of PLM in
August last year, recalled that on his first days at the university,
he noted that the facilities were in bad condition, there were a
small volume of books in the library, the students had no access to
free Internet inside the campus, and certain policies were not
rightfully implemented.
In less than six months, Tamano said that
they were able to enhance the roster of the faculty, acquire more
books, put up free Internet stations for research, and improve or
acquire new facilities.
For book acquisitions alone, he said the
university is now spending close to P2.5 million. The university now
has 37 computers with free Internet access for students.
He said that PLM is also currently conducting
lectures and forums by inviting distinguished speakers, which will
further increase the political and social consciousness of its
students.
A roster of competent instructors for its
College of Law was also recruited, led by former Senator Ernesto
Maceda, Justice Oswaldo Agcaoili, and Lawyers Abelardo Domondon,
Victorino Mamalateo, Katrina Legarda and Howard Calleja, among
others.
The 37-year-old university president also
said that PLM started its shuttle service for its employees, and
soon, for its students going to the university’s Avanceña
extension.
Performing well
Tamano stressed the fact that PLM students,
despite the lack of needed facilities and equipment for better
learning, are still able to perform well or above expectations.
The university’s recent achievers
include Zandra Mae Bongco, a nursing graduate who topped last
December’s nursing licensure examinations. PLM also had a
95-percent passing rate in the nursing exams.
“There is so much we can do for PLM
because we have the brightest students,” he said. “Real
leadership is about doing concrete actions. We want to see students,
faculty and employees succeeding and being happy about what they
do.”
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