In Defense of UP’s Sovereignty, Legacy, and Future

We, the UP Los Baños Alumni Association (UPLBAA), write with urgency and conviction to express our deep concern over the ongoing dispute between the University of the Philippines and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). This is not a mere institutional disagreement; it is a matter of national sovereignty, stewardship, and respect for the legacy of our country’s premier academic institution.

UPLB has long stood as the bedrock of Philippine agricultural science and rural development. It has produced generations of scientists, public servants, and leaders who have shaped our nation’s food security and scientific progress. The land it occupies is not just property; it is patrimony, entrusted to the university for the benefit of the Filipino people.

IRRI, while a respected international research body, exists on Philippine soil through the generosity of the Filipino nation. Its presence is a privilege, not a right. That privilege must be exercised with humility, transparency, and alignment with national interests. Unfortunately, recent actions by IRRI, whether through questionable proposals or legal maneuvering, have shown a troubling disregard for UP’s autonomy and rightful stewardship of its lands.

We reject any attempt to diminish UP’s authority over its own resources. We reject the notion that an international institution can override the will and welfare of a national university and its constituents. UPLB is not a junior partner; it is the intellectual and historical foundation upon which IRRI was built.

We call for the immediate reaffirmation of UP’s full control and oversight over all lands within its jurisdiction, including those occupied by IRRI; transparent renegotiation of all land-use agreements, with full participation of UP’s leadership and stakeholders; a clear commitment from IRRI to support Philippine national development priorities, especially in agriculture and food security; and respectful and reciprocal institutional relations, grounded in mutual benefit.

We urge the entire UP system, the Philippine government, and the academic community to stand with the university. We call on IRRI to honor its host and recommit to a partnership built on trust and respect.

The UPLBAA will defend our university’s dignity, its lands, its leaders, and its mission. We call on all alumni to speak out, mobilize, and ensure that UP’s voice is heard.

Capt. Mauro “Mannie” Barradas
President, UPLB Alumni Association