# University of the Philippines Tacloban

The University of the Philippines Tacloban (Waray: Unibersidad han Pilipinas ha Tacloban) is an autonomous unit of the University of the Philippines system. It was established on May 23, 1973, at the city of Tacloban, Philippines.

## History

In its 833rd meeting, the University of the Philippines (UP) Board of Regents established the UP College Tacloban. It was recognized as a regional unit of the System on May 23, 1973 and inaugurated on July 2, 1973.
Ten years later, Executive Order No. 4 placed UP College Tacloban under the administrative supervision of University of the Philippines Visayas.
A new campus will be constructed in Barangay Santa Elena in Tacloban City after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the funding for the construction of the access road from the national highway to the campus site recently.
On November 8, 2013, the college sustained severe damage and lost one employee and four of its students due to Typhoon Yolanda. Due to the extent of the damage incurred by the college, its students were forced to enroll in other University of the Philippines campuses such as UP Cebu. University of the Philippines Visayas sent cash aid to support UP Tacloban's faculty members a few days after the typhoon hit.
On April 17, 2023, during his opening remarks at the Climate Talks Philippines forum at the UP Tacloban Multi-Purpose Building, UP President Angelo A. Jimenez announced the approval of the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) to elevate UP Tacloban as an autonomous college of the UP System. In its 1380th meeting, held on 27 April 2023, the UP Board of Regents approved the elevation of UP Tacloban College from being one of the campuses of UP Visayas to an autonomous unit of the University under the Office of the UP President.

## Admissions
### UP College Admission Test (UPCAT)

Admission into the University of the Philippines' undergraduate programs is very competitive, with over 100,000 students taking the exam every year, with about 11,000 being accepted. To maintain its high standard of education and to maximize its limited resources, UP has had to limit slots for undergraduate admission to each campus and to its various degree programs by means of qualification through the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT).

## Organization

UP Tacloban is divided into four academic divisions:
* Division of Humanities
* Division of Management
* Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
* Division of Social Sciences
The college is also home to three research and public service offices: the Leyte Samar Heritage Center (LSHC), the Regional Environmental Information Systems (REIS), and the Office of Continuing Education and Pahinungod (OCEP).

## Academic programs

The college's BS Accountancy, BS Biology, BS Management and BS Computer Science programs are currently the best in Region 8. The college's BA Communication Arts program is the finest in the Visayan archipelago in terms of Speech, Literature and Theater Arts. The BA Psychology program has also been recently recognized in the Psychological Association of the Philippines-Junior Affiliates (PAPJA) and is considered one of the top performing schools in the Psychometrician Board Exam in recent years.

### Undergraduate

* Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts
* Bachelor of Arts in Literature
* Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
* Bachelor of Science in Economics
* Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
* Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
* Bachelor of Science in Biology
* Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
* Bachelor of Science in Management
* Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics

### Graduate

* Master of Management (Business Management)
* Master of Management (Public Management)
* Master of Science (Environmental Science)

## Student life
### Student Body

The Student Body is autonomous student body and has a student council subject only to the express will of the students. There are more than 2000 students currently enrolled and has 48 student organizations. All bona fide undergraduate students of the UP Tacloban are considered members of the UP Tacloban student body.
UP Tacloban Student Council Academic Year 2023-2024 :
| Name | Position |
| Paul Lachica | Chairperson |
| Mark Louise Borja | Vice-Chairperson |
| Jenny Bajas III | Councilor |
| Mary Dianne Laurente | Councilor |
| John Lester Permejo | Councilor |
| Mylene Dacara | Councilor |
| Alexa Beatrice Pepito | DNSM Representative |
| Angelina Talamayan | DSS Representative |

### Student Council

The Student Council is the policy-making body in between sessions of the General Assembly. It is considered independent and need not to be recognized by the Office of the Student Affairs. The selection of its officers is annual via students' election.

### Student organizations

There are 48 college recognized organizations, which includes academic program-specific organizations (e.g. JPIA, JPMAP, Politikons, Psych Circle, EcoSoc, InterSoc, Biosoc, and Ideopraxist) geological-based organizations (e.g. UP ACCESS, OrSiCUP, UP KAISSA, UP HINGYAP, etc.), socio-civic (UP Halcyon, UP Runggiyan, etc.), interests (Step UP, Amplify UP, etc.), fraternities and sororities, (APO, TGP, TOM), political parties (PULSO Han Mag-aaram, KALAYAAN Lihok Mag-aaram, etc.), and others. Student organizations are formed by students with common interests and has its own constitutions, rules and activities. Student organizations will only be considered by the college of it complies with and abides by the rules set by the university and by the college.