IN RESPONSE TO the widespread concerns raised by San Beda University (SBU) employees regarding their overdue salary adjustment and the pending distribution of the recent tuition fee increase (TFI), the University administration finally released a memorandum outlining how the collected fees shall be allocated last April 19.
In a memorandum released to all University employees on the evening of April 19, the Office of the Rector-President provided clarity on the allocation of funds for salary increases and other benefits. This comes after The Bedan’s two-part article series (Part 1: San Beda employees bemoan stagnant wages, lack of action on CBA and Part 2: For San Beda’s rank-and-file, the fight for better pay is “personal”) shedding light on the challenges faced by rank-and-file personnel regarding their stagnant wages and the stalled collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations between the management and the San Beda College Union (SBCU).
The Rector-President’s memo cited the Department of Education (DepEd) Memo No. 12, Series of 1995 and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum No. 3, Series of 2012 as the legal bases for the distribution of the TFI proceeds. These memoranda stipulate that “seventy percent (70%) of the TFI funds should be allocated for salaries, wages, allowances, and other benefits of teaching and non-teaching personnel.”
Additionally, the memo from the Rector-President also provided details on the distribution of salary increases, including adjustments for factors such as the NCR Wage Order No. 24. It also highlighted the administration’s commitment to “complying with regulations” and ensuring the fair and transparent allocation of funds.
The Bedan has been able to independently verify that several employees, who have asked to stay anonymous in order to speak candidly about the subject, have already received the increase in their bank accounts during the same evening of the memo’s release.
In response, the SBCU President, Mr. Bernardo Tayag, told The Bedan that they were thankful to the University for finally distributing the funds. “Nagpapasalamat tayo sa management dahil binigay nila ‘yung hinihingi natin,” said Mr. Tayag.
Making the rounds last Saturday and this past Monday, Mr. Tayag says that other employees expressed gratitude to the management as well. “Umikot naman ako no’ng Saturday and then [on Monday], marami naman akong nakausap, natuwa naman talaga sila sa natanggap nila na increase and then, sabi ko, [mag]pasalamat naman tayo kay Fr. Rector, at least natugunan ‘yong hinihiling natin na TFI increase.”
However, the Union leader says that he and the rest of the SBCU Board will still meet to discuss the memo at length in order to “clarify” a few issues and to keep the members abreast of their next moves. “Gagawa tayo ng aksyon pagkatapos ng meeting with the members at saka Board of Directors, kung ano ‘yung thoughts nila sa increase, kung paano nila tinanggap, and then, kokolektahin natin ‘yan lahat ng [sentiments] nila…and then gagawa tayo ng decision.”
Moving forward, Mr. Tayag says that he hopes for a more amicable end to their ongoing CBA negotiations and that the management will be more “open” to hear their concerns from now on. “Siguro naman, ‘yung hihingiin na naman natin na ano, hindi na siguro magiging balakid, na pagbibigyan ulit tayo. Kung may hihingiin tayo na ano…Actually naman, hindi kami kalabisan. Ang hinihingi lang namin ay para sa mga miyembro, at susuporta kami sa management, mga programa niya.”
“Kay Fr. Rector naman nagpapasalamat ako personally, dahil natulungan niya kami. And then, sa…siguro ‘yung last, sana maayos na. Lalong-lalo na ngang itong…’yung sinabi ko na dalawang CBA, sana ma-close na namin,” added the SBCU President.
(with reports from Gian Marcel Chiu and Manssel Latonero)