History (1986-1990)

This period brought about a dramatic change in the University firming its commitment to the role of education as an equalizing factor.

1986
In April 1986, the PUP presidency was reassumed by Dr. Nemesio E. Prudente, who has seen university education as an equalizing instrument that would enable the children of the economically disadvantaged to climb up the ladder of society - and to counterbalance the dominating influence of the affluent few in the nation's day-to-day affairs as well as help greatly in charting its long-term destiny.

Dr. Nemesio E. Prudente

Dr. Prudente had the PUP philosophy, mission, and strategies formulated by a multi-sectoral committee; a new PUP logo designed; a new PUP hymn composed; and the administrative/academic organization restructured.  This led to the renaming/raising of the following departments of the University:

It also led to the creation of  the College of Languages and Mass Communications (CLMC), the Institute of Social History (ISH), and the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations (ILIR).

New graduate programs were introduced:

• Master in Industrial Engineering and Management (MIEM),

• Master of Arts in Psychology (MAP), and

• Master in Educational Management (MEM).

Aside from this, the nontraditional masteral programs in Business Administration were strengthened.

In PUP Manila, the Community Relations Office was created under the Public Affairs Office and the community outreach programs of the branches were strengthened.

University governance was democratized.  The Academic Council was expanded to include not only full professors but associate and assistant professors as well.  The open-door policy was institutionalized, the University Code revised, and the PUP Five-Year Development Plan (1987-1992) drafted.

The University increased enrollment at all levels as well as the number of scholarships and financial aid grants; it also offered short-term technical-vocational courses and maintained its laboratory high school.

The University improved its instructional, co-curricular, and administrative facilities; it also acquired more and bigger campuses.

Trends, the institution's official professional journal of ideas was revived.

1987
The developments during this school year include:

• Recognition of KAWANI, an employee's union;
• Offering in Doctor in Educational Management (DEM), Master in Physical Education, Dance, and Recreation (MPEDR), and Master in Psychology (MAP);
• Purchase of Hasmin Hostel in Sta. Mesa;
• Initial offering of PUP Maragondon of baccalaureate programs in Accountancy, Business Education, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering;
• Offering at PUP Manila of new baccalaureate programs in Mathematics, Applied Sociology, Advertising and PR, Transportation Management, Information Technology, Political Economy, Internal Trade Management, Political Science, Public Administration, Architecture, Chemical Engineering, and Filipino;
• Initial offering by PUP BEPZ / Bataan of baccalaureate programs in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, and Computer Data Processing Management (BCDPM);
• Initial offering by PUP Lopez of BCDPM;
• Strengthening of the University's technical-vocational programs in Manila, Maragondon (Cavite), and Unisan (Quezon);
• Appointment of Prof. Ofelia M. Carague to the SGV Professional Chair in Computer Science Output;
• Improvement of physical facilities in PUP Manila and its branches;
• Enhanced co-curricular programs, upsurge in cultural activities, and maintenance of a dynamic physical education and sports program, including retention of overall championships in the SCUAA (State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association) and the PICUAA;
• Implementation of national government circulars effecting salary adjustments based on merit;
• Sending of personnel, on official time, to seminars / workshops and conferences outside the University;
• Granting of scholarships to incoming freshmen who were editors-in-chief or journalists of the year while in high school;
• Revival of Memorabilia, the official yearbook of graduating students;
• Increase of faculty / student newsletters;
• The degree Bachelor in Information Technology (BIT) was offered;
• Establishment of the University Center for Human Rights Education (UCHURE); and
• Improved physical set-up / acquisition of more facilities for the PUP Printing Press.

1988
The Administration stepped up efforts to develop the physical facilities for PUP Manila and the branches. It also followed up the acquisition of the 10-hectare lot of the National Development Company which is adjacent to the University's A. Mabini Campus in Sta. Mesa, Manila.  It likewise followed up bills in Congress, such as those...

1. Seeking to grant faculty members and students participation in University decision-making as full-pledge members of their school's Board of Regents and Trustees;
2. Granting financial autonomy to state universities and colleges;
3. Establishing PUP extensions / branches in Taguig (Metro Manila), Romblon, and Masbate; and
4. Establishing a national mass communications center in PUP Manila.

The University established centers and institution for special studies with their respective academic journals as well as consortia, linkages, and joint projects with local and international agencies.  It implemented its yearly evaluation and merit promotion scheme for the faculty and administrative staffs.  And it conferred doctoral degrees, honoris casua, to four prominent personages.

Other developments:

• Offering of a graduate extension program in PUP BEPZ;
• Offering of more nontraditional courses
• Adoption of the policy requiring a masteral degree for a faculty member to qualify for permanent position;
• Getting by PUP graduates of a passing mark of 81.5% in Licensure Examination for Nutritionists / Dieticians, which was twice the national passing mark of 40.5%;
• Offering of refresher courses by College of Accountancy (CA) and the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) to prepare PUP students for board examinations; and
• Printing of more publications, such as Trends, Bisig, Journal of Economics and Politics, Journal of Social History, PUP Profiles, PUP Campus Observer, and the Graduate Forum.

PUP continued to dominate the SCUAA and the PICUAA.  The PUP Banda Kawayan was made the official entertainer of the Philippine Pavilion Hotel during the opening of the World Exposition '88 in Brisbane, Australia, and the Bagong Himig again emerged as the champion in the national choral singing competition.

1989
The PUP Graduate School introduced a nontraditional program to the degree of Master in Economics.

PUP Manila started to offer traditional baccalaureate degree programs in Sociology, Political Science, and Cooperatives.  PUP Lopez, on the other hand, introduced two additional courses:  Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.  The Board of Regents approved the offering of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Bachelor of Science in Forestry, Forest Ranger Certificate, and Diploma in Fisheries Technology.

The University, furthermore, continued to explore the "Open University" concept.  It also started to develop the 17-hectare campus in Taguig, Metro Manila.

The University conferred an honorary doctorate in Public Administration on former Pres. Diosdado Macapagal and in Arts and Letters on Prof. Renato Constantino, Sr.

Faculty members teaching the same subjects were required to use a common syllabus, for this would facilitate departmentalization of final examinations, particularly in the basic subjects.

The University Textbook Board was established.

The University adopted the policy that only students who pas the qualifying examinations in the third year of the particular specialization may continue to enroll in courses with board / licensure examinations.

Also established were Professional Chairs in Political Economy, Banking and Finance, Computer Science, Engineering, and Marketing, as well as the Research Institute for Politics and Economics (RIPE) and the Center for International Relations (CIR).

The University got elevated to level one status, which meant, among other things, higher salary rates for University personnel.

It was also able to complete the P.E. Bldg. on A. Mabini Campus, the Graduate School Bldg. at M.H. del Pilar Campus, and a two-storey building in PUP Lopez.  It rehabilitated the old PNB Bldg. for the use of PUP Bataan.

1990
The initiatives of the University in School Year 1990-1991 include the following:

• Establishment of the "Open University" or Pamantasang Bayan of degree and non-degree programs in San Pedro (Laguna), Calaca (Batangas), Lopez (Quezon), Mulanay (Quezon), Lagro Subdivision (Quezon City), and Parañaque (Metro Manila)
• Granting of professorial chairs to duly selected accomplished professionals as follows:  Political Economy, Hector R. Villanueva; Banking and Finance, Antonio P. Gatmaitan; Computer Education, Hector M. Morada; and Marketing / Advertising, Leonardo Garcia
• Retention of overall championship in both the SCUAA and PICUAA
• Assigning of the Student Union Hall, as well as certain rooms in the Main Academic Building, to the Central Student Council and the accredited organizations under its coordination, the cultural groups, and the staffs of major student publications
• Completion of the construction of the new University Library Building
• Continuation of construction of the CEA Building
• Offering of non-formal education, medical services, sports training, and values formation to 51 street children in the Sta. Mesa area.
• Signing with the Dept. of National Defense of a Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) which stipulates respect for the sanctity of the University Campus, its academic freedom and autonomy as well as detailing procedural agreements on police / military University interaction.
• Entering into an industry-education linkage program agreement with the Philippine Computer Society for the furtherance of the development of Information Technology through Practicum, faculty assistance, office/plant visits, and training center use.
• Signing with the Dept. of Justice of a MOA for the offering of a nontraditional graduate program in Human Behavior Technology.
• Appointment of the University as training center for ATS CAD/CAI software.
• Signing of a MOA with the Philippine National Historical Society for the growth of a nationalist historiography and for the use of disciplines to clarify current social and national issues.
• Conduct of a summer EDP training for public elementary and high school principals in Metro Manila (in collaboration with the PSUCCESS)
• Setting up (through the COABTE) of a summer seminar on Court Stenography for stenographers of the House of Representatives.
• Entering into an agreement with the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that it shall take active role in developing and conserving environment and natural resources, specially at Mounts Palaypay and Mataas na Gulod in Maragondon, Cavite.
• Introduction of a baccalaureate degree program in Entrepreneurial Management.
• Signing of a MOA with the Philippine Historical Society, which stipulates that both entities work for the development of the proposed AB in Philippine History course as well as sponsor the first national conference on Urban History and lecture series on History and Social Problems
• Institution of several computerization projects