Text and photos by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Dr. Michael Tee, Professor and Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Manila, commended the University’s Internal Audit Office (IAO) and the Information, Publication, and Public Affairs Office (IPPAO) for exemplifying dedicated professionalism, transparency and accountability resulting in greater institutional trust.
The UP Manila official also emphasized the critical role of the two offices and described them as “important pillars” in UP Manila.
“IPPAO ensures transparency, making our work visible not only within the University but also to other universities,” he said during the Flag Raising Ceremony on Jan. 26 2026.
“Dahil sa IPPAO, nakikita ng mga tao ang ginagawa ng UP Manila, and we continue to expand our footprint across the country. That is the transparency that our people demand. At dahil alam nila ang impact ng UP Manila sa ating bansa, tayo ay mas lalo pang pinagkakatiwalaan ng mga pinuno ng iba’t-ibang ahensya ng bansa,” he added.
Last week, Chancellor Tee was invited to represent UP Manila at the launch of the PBBM-GABAY ng Bayan Programs in Laoag City. The PBBM-GABAY ng Bayan Programs supports the government’s commitment to education as a key driver of human capital formation and national competitiveness. One of the components of the PBBM-GABAY is a scholarship program that aims to provide inclusive education to top-graduates of public and private senior high schools and technical vocational institutions. The event was led by House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos on Jan. 23, 2026. The launch was organized by Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Kiko Benitez. He was the lone university official who attended the 2nd Joint Education Trifocal Management Committee Meeting where CHED, DepEd Philippines, TESDA, and EDCOM II Executive Director Karol Mark Yee agreed to institutionalize permanent working groups to ensure sustained coordination across ten priority areas: Early Childhood Education and Development; Senior High School and Pathways; Inclusive Education; Functional Literacy and Learning Recovery; Workforce Development; Tertiary Education Scholarships; Teacher Education, Professionalization, and Training; Creative Economy including Arts and Culture; Strategic Communications; and Legislative and Policy Agenda alignment.
UP Manila will be specifically involved in Early Child Health and Development, Inclusive Education, and Workforce Access and Development.
To date, UP Manila leads partnerships with other state universities and colleges in government-backed programs. These include a Commission on Higher Education project across ten areas of education for faculty development and another program which focuses on mental health. Support from the national government through the General Appropriations Act has also strengthened facilities such as the Forensic Laboratory and Lara Hall.
“The support given to us by the Filipinos must be reciprocated. We will do these while adhering to rules and regulations. We count on the Internal Audit Office to ensure we maintain robust systems of control, including our ISO certification,” Dr. Tee said.#
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