PLM, OPS sign off-campus master’s degree program agreement

The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to provide an off-campus Master of Public Administration program to qualified OPS employees, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

On its official Facebook page, state-run PTV-4 announced that the agreement was signed between OPS officer-in-charge and Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil and PLM President Emmanuel Leyco at the New Executive Building at Malacañan Palace.

The OPS said the tie-up is expected to enhance the skills of their staff by providing appropriate education, skills and values to better provide appropriate information and communication services to the public.

To date, about 14 staff members from OPS and four personnel from the Bureau of Communications Services have applied for the program.

More scholars are expected to participate in the free graduate class, especially as the OPS intends to offer the program to the staff from their attached agencies.

Classes are expected to start in December and will be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Saturday.

The OPS said it is also planning to allocate a venue for the classes and provide necessary equipment, such as whiteboards and LCD projectors when face-to-face become mandatory.

Garafil urged the OPS staff to take advantage of the opportunity, adding that it will not only advance their careers but give them personal growth.

Aside from Garafil and Leyco, also present during the MOA signing were OPS Undersecretary Ina Reformina, Undersecretary Marlon Purificacion, Undersecretary Greggy Eugenio, and PLM Dean Noemi Gocuyo.

The PLM is the first and only chartered and autonomous university funded by a city government.