GENERAL INQUIRIES

1. Does PLM operate autonomously from the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)?
Yes. As a national legislative creation, PLM is a chartered institution with an autonomous status, and operates under the authority of its own Charter, Republic Act No. 4196, which conferred upon the Board of Regents exclusive powers of governance over the University, in addition to its general powers of administration and the exercise of its corporate powers under the Corporation Code of the Philippines as specifically authorized by the Philippine Congress.

PLM, however, follows the minimum curricular requirements prescribed by CHEd for its program offerings as a means of the State to maintain academic excellence across the nation. PLM, however, through its University Council, is not proscribed from infusing program enhancements in order to maintain the primacy of its excellence as among the most respected universities in the country. Authority to fix the curriculum is exclusively conferred by R.A. 4196 upon the University Council.

2. Is PLM required to secure a Special Order from CHEd for the conferment of degrees upon its graduates like other universities in the Philippines?
PLM is exempted. As a chartered higher education institution created by the Philippine Congress, PLM has its own Charter. Republic Act No. 4196 prescribed the creation of a Board of Regents which has specific powers other than the exercise of corporate authority, including the exclusive authority to confer degrees, by virtue of a Board resolution, upon the recommendation of the University Council. Under the University Charter, the University Council exclusively exercises the specific authority to recommend candidates for graduation.

3. The CHEd has publicly commended PLM as a model university in the Philippines, while the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) conscientiously cites PLM as among the best performing schools in producing professionals through state board exams where PLM normally garners the top slots. Does PLM directly undertake accreditation by CHEd?
Given its chartered and autonomous status, PLM, as a leading institution of higher learning in the Philippines, does not directly undertake accreditation by the CHEd. Moreover, PLM believes in bolder moves of accrediting other institutions given its ascribed and earned status (and its foundational birthright) as a model university in the Philippines. As an offshoot of such philosophy, PLM serves as the national headquarters of the ALCU-Commission on Accreditation (ALCU-CoA).

Together with the Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), ALCU-CoA is a leading charter incorporator of the National Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in the Philippines (NNQAA). The CHEd was the convenor of the said fusion into the NNQAA of the ALCU-CoA (representing local colleges and universities or LCUs) and the AACCUP (representing state colleges and universities or SCUs), through then CHEd Chairman Bro. Rolando R. Dizon's efforts. The PRC, CHEd, the Commission on Civil Service, and the Commission on Audit (commissions under the Office of the President of the Philippines with cabinet status) were leading witnesses during the formal ceremonies of this milestone event held in Olongapo City on November 2003. As it is, the NNQAA and ALCU-CoA operate independently from the CHEd.

4. Given PLM's full independence from CHEd, does that mean that PLM's name does not regularly appear in CHEd's fact sheets of top performing schools available to the public?
Yes. It is normal that PLM does not appear in CHEd's myriad of lists as PLM is out of the scope of such published items since PLM is independent from the CHEd, and the CHEd does not exercise authority over PLM. Hence, this does not at all denigrate PLM's high-ranked status as among the top and most respected universities in the Philippines. To compensate for this, the CHEd has publicly commended PLM as a model university in the Philippines, citing further that PLM's excellence "is beyond reproach and a class by itself." This enviable recognition is echoed in innumerable times by other well-meaning institutions, including the Philippine Congress and the Presidential Palace (Malacañan), whenever PLM's name is mentioned in institutional discussions.

Despite not being part of the CHEd's lists, PLM figures out prominently as among the top schools in the country when joint cumulative data are presented by the CHEd and the PRC. In 1994-1998 set of data, PLM emerged 6th. For the 10-year period (1992-2001), PLM placed 9th. In the study covering 1999-2003, PLM placed 5th, making it one of only two public universities in the top 5 list. For 2009 alone, PLM is at the 9th notch nationwide, with 6 other public universities and 3 private institutions in the list. It is pertinent to note that PLM consistently ranks among the top universities in state board examinations by the PRC.

VERIFICATION OF AND REQUEST FOR CREDENTIALS

1. How does PLM validate the authenticity of the credentials of its alumni?
The Office of the University Registrar (OUR) is the exclusive unit that performs validation of student records submitted by alumni to prospective employers locally and abroad. Regular items requested for verification include: Name of the conferee, conferred degree, date of conferment, authenticity of diploma and signatures, grades and other contents of the Transcript of Record, entry requirement for the program, standard duration for the program, and the official medium of instruction.

Entities requesting for verification may direct their inquries to:
The University Registrar
Direct Line: (+63 2) 527-9070
Fax No.: (+63 2) 528-4574
Trunkline No.: (+63 2) 527-7941 to 48 loc. 48
Email: registrar@plm.edu.ph
Note: Pls click on this email only if you are representing a company that is requesting for credentials verification.

2. PLM-issued diplomae are in Filipino (Philippine national language). Is there an equivalent English translation?
PLM, as a matter of policy, issues its official diploma in the national language to preserve the national heritage and in keeping with its pioneering tradition of using the national language for its name. This diploma in Filipino has an adjunct copy of its English translation, certified by the University Registrar, to facilitate the understanding of foreign nationals and entities.

3. What is the official medium of instruction in PLM?
PLM uses English as the official medium of instruction for all subjects, including core subjects like Mathematics, Science, Ethics and Social Studies, except for Communication Arts in Filipino. Art. XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provided for English as the official language of the Philippines for communication and instruction, in addition to Filipino as the national language.

4. How does an alumnus living in a foreign land apply for processing of credentials?
As a matter of policy involving the security and confidentiality of student records, documents must be secured by the applicant/alumnus himself. Applicants who live in geographically distant places, whether local or foreign, may download and fill-up the OUR Request Form and send it thru a duly authorized representative who will file the request, pay the fee through the Cashier's Office, and claim the requested credential on behalf of the applicant. An affidavit of loss may be required in some cases. For guidance, pls. refer to the OUR Checklist of Requirements.
For inquiry, you may contact registrar@plm.edu.ph
Note: Pls click on this email only if you are a former PLM scholar (i.e., alumnus) who is requesting for the processing of credentials.

PLMAT AND SIMILAR CONCERNS

1. PLM traditionally caters to the top 10-20% graduates of DCS-Manila. Does PLM also accept PLMAT applicants from other high schools?
PLM was conceived with the social commitment to provide high quality education to the financially-disadvantaged but intelligent youth of Manila. Hence, when it started its operations in 1967, PLM has exclusively accepted applicants from the graduates and graduands of the public high schools of the Division of City Schools-Manila (DCS-Manila) who are qualified residents of Manila. Over the years, PLM also opened its doors to applicants from all high schools in and out of Manila recognized by the Department of Education; Provided, however, that they are qualified residents of Manila.

2. How can the applicants be considered as qualified residents of Manila?
The applicant's valid Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) voter's ID, or a parent's latest voter's ID or voter's registration or income tax return/real property tax receipt, bearing the "City of Manila" (as the place of issue and as the bearer's address) will primarily satisfy Manila residency. When submitting a parent's credential, a birth certificate is required to establish the applicant's relation with the parent. Secondary proofs of residency or identification are also required in support (but not in lieu) of the primary proof/s, such as a barangay certification of Manila residency and the parent's company ID.

3. Is there any automatic admission privilege available?
Yes. Manila residents who are honor graduates of DCS-Manila public high schools (valedictorians, salutatorians, and 1st to 3rd honorable mentions) shall automatically qualify for admission upon presentation of a verifiable credential executed by a duly authorized high school official. Such credential shall be validated with the list to be provided to PLM by the Superintendent of the DCS-Manila who also sits as an ex-officio member of the PLM Board of Regents.

4. Can non-Manila residents still have a privilege of being admitted to PLM?
Yes. While admittance to PLM is exclusive to Manila residents, non-residents may still qualify for application as freshmen, provided they have graduated either as valedictorian or salutatorian, which fact shall be established by a verifiable credential executed by a duly authorized high school official. Passing the PLMAT to be administered on the 3rd week of April 2010 will then qualify them for admission.

5. Can high school graduates through non-traditional systems also qualify for application?
Yes. Manila residents who have completed their secondary education through non-formal and alternative learning systems, as evidenced by the PEPT or NFE/ALS certification in lieu of a regular secondary report card (Form 138), may qualify for application.

6. I have previously taken the PLMAT. Can I take it again to qualify for admission this coming school year?
No. An applicant who has already taken the PLMAT in the past, whether or not he passed the same, can no longer qualify for application to re-take the PLMAT in the current and succeeding school years.

7. How much is the entrance exam (PLMAT) fee?
Beginning this year, no fees shall be imposed to ALL applicants as a policy-direction of the city government of Manila and the PLM Management pursuant to PLM's social commitment to providing free high-quality tertiary education to the residents of Manila. Application for PLMAT is therefore FREE. This democratizes the aperture and access to quality higher education by the talented youth of our financially-strapped communities.

8. When will be the PLMAT schedules?
Applications for PLMAT that were processed before the respective cutoff dates will be scheduled on the ff. dates:
06 and 13 December 2009; 17 and 24 January 2010
Valedictorians and Salutatorians who are non-Manilans will be scheduled on the 3rd week of April 2010, subject to further notice.
Examinees are strongly advised against being late on the assigned testing time.

9. How are successful examinees determined? What are the criteria in passing the PLMAT?
The PLMAT is basically a standardized test/measurement instrument. Hence, the examinees' scores are weighted against a standardized PLMAT score. If their scores satisfy the suggested cut-off score, they will qualify for enrolment. The range of cut-off scores approximates the examinees' expected performance in the University, particularly in the 5 major subtests (English, Science, Mathematics, Filipino and Abstract Reasoning). Examinees who successfully achieve a score that is equal to or better than the standardized cut-off score are expected to exude the capacity to hurdle the rigors of an excellent yet exacting university scholarship at PLM.

10. When is the tentative date of release of PLMAT results?
Subject to a relevant announcement, the PLMAT results will be posted in PLM grounds by the Dean of Admissions (University Registrar) on 19 February 2010. Releasing the results thru the website may be subsequently authorized by the University President.

11. Is the "General Information on Freshman Admission" freely available? Is it downloadable?
Yes. Just like the PLMAT application form and the exam fee, it is also FREE. You may also download an advance copy of the upcoming printed copies thru this website. Download

REGISTRATION AND SIMILAR CONCERNS

1. Upon admission to my undergraduate course, will my education at PLM be on the basis of scholarship?
Yes. Education at PLM is basically on the basis of scholarship since PLM is a scholars' university. Full scholarship is conferred to all Manila residents, regardless of whether they graduated from a public or private high school. A highly-subsidized scholarship is given to privileged non-Manila residents like valedictorians and salutatorians from outside of Manila. The latter pay a very minimal fee for the privilege of getting high quality tertiary education that used to be exclusive to Manila's intellectually-gifted youth who are products of DCS-Manila.

2. Does PLM accept transferees from other schools?
For the undergraduate level, PLM does not accept transferees. Scholars are admitted only as freshmen after passing the required PLMAT; Provided, however, that the applicant has not previously taken the same and has not yet enrolled in any higher education institution.

For the graduate level, subjects may be accredited based on the evaluation by the school authorities. For specific details and requirements, applicants are advised to confer with the respective graduate schools they intend to apply for. See contacts here.