UP MANILA
Statement on the case of
Kristel Tejada
By
Manuel B. Agulto, MD
UP Manila Chancellor
Clarifiying matters related to UP policies
that have been mentioned in media:
 On the issue of “forced” leave of absence:
 There is no “Forced” LOA
 LOA is filed by students who are not
officially enrolled for various reasons
(health, family, migration, financial, etc)
which will facilitate their enrolment for
the next semester
 This is not a penalty but a solution so that
they can continuously be enrolled as a
UP Student
Clarifiying matters related to UP policies
that have been mentioned in media:
 On the “No late payment” policy:
 Article 330 of the University Code
“no person who has not duly matriculated may
be admitted to classes”
 This is a means to put order, uniformity and
equality among all students
 UP extends help for students who cannot
comply with this rule

extension of payment

financial assistance

loans
 Application for STFAP
Clarifiying matters related to UP policies
that have been mentioned in media:

On the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance
Program (STFAP)Procedure
 STFAP is a program that enables poor students to
study in UP without having to pay full tuition fees
and even receive monthly stipend depending on
their bracket
 STFAP is a dynamic mechanism to respond the
students’ financial needs
 The process allows for a re-bracketing depending
on the most current financial status of the students’
family
 In order to ensure that the bracket is accurate and
fair to all UP students, there are standard
requirements that students have to comply with
 Explain Bracket A-E
*The STFAP brackets are primarily based on the annual
family income and have corresponding fees or benefits.
Bracket
Annual Family Income
Fees / Benefits
A
More than P1,000,000
Full-cost tuition fee, full miscellaneous and
laboratory fees
B
P500,001 to P1,000,000
Base tuition fee, full miscellaneous and laboratory
fees
C
P250,001 to P500,000
40% discount on base tuition fee, full miscellaneous
and laboratory fees
D
P135,001 to P250,000
70% discount on base tuition fee, full miscellaneous
and laboratory fees
E1
P80,001 to 135,000
Free tuition, miscellaneous, and laboratory fees
E2
P80,000 or less
Free tuition, miscellaneous, and laboratory fees plus
standard stipend
THE TUITION FEE PER UNIT FOR THE
CONSTITUENT UNIVERSITY OR CAMPUS IS AS
FOLLOWS:
BRACKET
UP DILIMAN,
MANILA, LOS
BANOS
UP Baguio, UP
Mindanao,
UP San Fernando,
UP Visayas
A
P 1,500
P 1,000
B
P 1,000
P
600
C
P
600
P
400
D
P
300
P
200
E1 & E2
0
0
Facts On Ms. Tejada’s Case Specific To
The Enrolment And Payment

Ms. Tejada is a student classified under bracket D from the
time she entered UP as a freshman in June 2012. This
means that she only paid P300/unit and allowed her to
avail of loans from the Student Loan Board.

On September 27, 2012 Ms. Tejada filed for an appeal to
rebracket her to E2 (free tuition fee+ allowance) but
unfortunately was not able to submit the supporting
documents.
Facts On Ms. Tejada’s Case Specific To The Enrolment And
Payment


Ms Tejada availed a loan amounting to P6377 which was
due at the end of October 2012 before the second
semester enrolment. UPM allowed an extension of
payment to

November 30, 2012

December 7, 2012

December 19, 2012 in response to an appeal from Ms. Tejada.
The family was able to pay off this loan on December 19, 2012,
and got a form for another loan.


Ms. Tejada was not able to pay the tuition fee for the
second semester. The family appealed only on January
23, 2013, 9 weeks into the semester, well beyond the last
day for payment which was agreed upon by UPM and the
student leaders.

Ms. Tejada filed for an LOA on March 13, 2013

DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
PARTICULARS
10 May 2012
Kristel Pilar Mariz
Tejada enrols in the BA
Behavioral Science
program of UP Manila
Categorized under
STFAP Bracket D
(Php300/unit)
Total assessed fees
(tuition,
miscellaneous, NSTP,
etc.): Php 9172.50
REMARKS
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
11 May 2012
PARTICULARS
Ms. Tejada pays
PhP 2795.50;
avails of Student
Loan Board (SLB)
in the amount of
PhP 6,377.00
REMARKS
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
PARTICULARS
27 Sept 2012
Ms. Tejada files appeal for
STFAP re-bracketing to
Bracket E2 (free tuition +
allowance).
REMARKS
Failed to submit any
supporting documentary
requirements for appeal
to be processed during the
designated period despite
Reasons cited for appeal: frequent reminders from
father lost his job resulting the Office of Student
in extreme financial
Affairs (OSA).
difficulty and parents
frequently have “word
fight and physical fight
over lack of money”
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
11 Oct 2012
PARTICULARS
REMARKS
VCAA, OSA, NGOHS meet with USC
Chair and Chairs of the College
Student Councils “to discuss how
we can ensure that all students are
duly matriculated at the beginning
of the semester.”
Action points that were agreed on:
1. Option for bank payment of
tuition fee
2. Deadline for payment of
tuition was set on 23 Nov 2012
3. Student leaders to help
disseminate info and to be on
the lookout for fellow students
who might need help so they
can be referred to OSA
UP Manila Administration
immediately made arrangements
with Landbank to enable tuition
payments to be made in any branch
of Landbank across the country
starting 2nd semester 2012-2013.
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
PARTICULARS
23 Oct 2012
VCAA issues reminder regarding
Article 330 of the University Code
which states that “No person who
has not duly matriculated may be
admitted to the classes.”
The memo further states that
“Students who are experiencing
financial difficulties or who expect
delays in the arrival of financial
support from their parents or
sponsors are advised to go to the
Office of Student Affairs as soon as
possible to avail of financial
assistance provided by the
University for payment of tuition
and other fees.”
REMARKS
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
6 Nov 2012
PARTICULARS
REMARKS
Mr. Christopher
Tejada, father of Ms.
Tejada, files request
for extension to settle
1st sem SLB.
Deadline was moved
from 31 October to
30 Nov 2012.
Action:
Approved to settle
balance of SLB on 30
Nov 2012, but must
pay tuition for 2nd
sem 2012-2013
during the
registration period
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
Nov – Dec 2012
PARTICULARS
Ms. Tejada was
accommodated in
the Office of
Student Affairs
(OSA) as Student
Assistant (pending
submission of her
Form 5 for the 2nd
semester).
REMARKS
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
25 Nov
2012
PARTICULARS
VCAA sends an email to all Deans
(cc: Chancellor, Univ. Registrar, OSA Director, College
Secretaries):
“There may still be a few students who haven't paid their
tuition fee. As a result of a dialogue I held with the USC and
College council leaders last Friday, 23 Nov, I have decided to
look into the circumstances of these students who haven't
availed of our financial assistance programs in order to
determine where their difficulty lies and to see how the
University can assist them with matriculation. Kindly
identify these students and advise them to write a letter to
me explaining why they were unable to meet the deadline
and to meet with me on TUESDAY, NOV. 27, 2012, 8 AM at
the UPM Boardroom. They MUST come and see me on this
REMARKS
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
25 Nov
2012
PARTICULARS
VCAA sends email to the USC Chair (cc: Student
Regent, OSA, IPPAO, Office of the Chancellor,
OVCAA):
“I am sending you a copy of the email I sent to
the Deans. Kindly disseminate this to the
various college council chairs. I am requesting
the help of the USC and College student leaders
in informing the students concerned (thru sms,
fb, twitter, etc...) of what they need to do.”
REMARKS
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
27 Nov
2012
PARTICULARS
REMARKS
Ms. Tejada again requests for
extension of payment of SLB and
late enrolment.
Action:
Approved to settle SLB on or
before 7 Dec 2012; Advised to
avail of SELF loan for enrolment
on or before 7 Dec 2012.
(Note: Ms. Tejada was unable to
meet this deadline)
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
PARTICULARS
Nov – Dec All 79 appeals for late payment
2012
of tuition were approved during
this period.
REMARKS
28 out of the 79 appeals cited
financial difficulty as the
reason for the appeal. The
rest cited the following
reasons: not aware of the
deadline, technical glitches
during registration,
unforeseen events, money
did not arrive on time, with
outstanding SLB balance,
hectic work schedule, and
negligence.
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
PARTICULARS
19 Dec Mr. Tejada settles 1st
2012 sem SLB loan, and
obtains form to apply
for another loan.
REMARKS
New loan could no
longer be processed
as this was already
the last working day
for UPM.
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
23 Jan 2013
PARTICULARS
REMARKS
Mr. Tejada writes to appeal
that his daughter be allowed
to enrol.
This is already 9 weeks after classes have
started (excluding Christmas break).
Article 332 of the University Code states that:
“No student shall be registered in any subject
after one week of regular class meetings have
been held,...”
3 extensions were already granted to Ms.
Tejada and it was already mid-semester.
Since it is a violation of Article 332 of the
University Code, the appeal could no longer
be accommodated as it will set a precedent.
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
PARTICULARS
4 Feb 2013 Mrs. Blesilda Tejada,
mother of Ms. Tejada,
approaches Chancellor
Agulto at a social
gathering of the UPM
Assoc. of Parents and
Counsellors and
reiterates appeal for her
daughter to enrol.
REMARKS
The Chancellor was sympathetic, but
the appeal could no longer be granted
for the same reasons as previously
stated.
FOR THE RECORD
(As Clarified by Mrs. Blesilda Tejada
in reports): No kneeling or begging
occurred.
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
PARTICULARS
13 March Ms. Tejada files
2013
her application for
leave of absence
(LOA).
REMARKS
For students who are not officially enrolled,
filing a leave of absence is a mechanism
which will greatly facilitates his/her return
to school the next term.
The fact that Ms. Tejada went through the
process of getting a college clearance,
submitting her application, and paying the
LOA fee indicated that she wanted her
student record to be in order. It signified her
intention of enrolling again the next
semester.
DETAILS OF KRISTEL PILAR MARIZ TEJADA’S CASE
(Prepared by the UP Manila Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
DATE
PARTICULARS
13 March Ms. Tejada files
2013
her application for
leave of absence
(LOA).
REMARKS
For students who are not officially enrolled,
filing a leave of absence is a mechanism
which will greatly facilitates his/her return
to school the next term.
The fact that Ms. Tejada went through the
process of getting a college clearance,
submitting her application, and paying the
LOA fee indicated that she wanted her
student record to be in order. It signified her
intention of enrolling again the next
semester.
Final Statements
 We do not wish to give anyone a difficult
time. We dream for them as they aspire for
their future. As administrators, we are not
enemies. I would like to consider myself as a
surrogate parent to our students, faculty,
and staff. We do not wish to pose obstacles
in realizing their dreams. In fact, we wish
even bigger dreams for them. We always
want to work with our students because we
were once like them.
We pay homage to Kristel Tejada.
You will always be remembered.