Q&A with the new MSUS President Habib Macaayong
This is a brief interview with the new Mindanao State University System President Dr. Habib Macaayong by the MSU-IIT Office of Publication & Information (OPI) on March 23, 2016 at 10:00 AM, Antonio Isidro Hall, MSU Main Campus, Marawi City
Interviewer — Rex G. Ortega, Associate Editor of the Gazette, official newsletter of the MSU-IIT
Photos by John Daniel Enriquez, OPI Graphic Designer; with OPI Interns, Rohanimah Guro and Datu Esma Mikee P. Maruhom
Transcription by Ace Guro
Rex G. Ortega (RGO): We will begin with this [presents letter]. That is the letter from Dr. Christine [Godinez] Ortega, the Head [Acting Director] of our Office of Publication and Information (OPI). We are here because she asked us to do a write up on you because everyone is very curious on who is the new [MSUS] president. So, I hope you can give us a few minutes of your time.
Sir, tell us who is Dr. Macaayong?
President Habib: … prior to my appointment as the president of the MSU System, I have been a Professor VI in the College of Public Affairs since 1981. I was also the Vice president for Academic Affairs in the Jamaitul Marawi City Al Islamiyah Foundation in 2003-2004. I was also a Department Chairman of the Department of Public Administration, College of Public Affairs for two terms then I finished my Doctor of Public Administration at the University of Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, my Master’s in Business Administration at the Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City 1986 and my Master’s in Public Administration also in the Ateneo de Davao University. I finished my Bachelor of Science in Public Administration at the College of Public Affairs in MSU Marawi City in 1975.
RGO: Sir, I also understand that you are with the Peace Panel?
President Habib: Yes, yes. I was a member of the technical working group on governance in 2004-2008 of the MILF Peace Panel and also a technical working group chairman on power sharing of the MILF Peace Panel in 2011- 2012.
RGO: To be accurate, can we secure a copy of your CV?
President Habib: Yeah. Pero it will be later. I will provide you. I will send you.
RGO: Yes, sir. We would not want any mistake because there are a lot to put there.
Regarding your involvement with the peace panel, can I ask you how will this experience help you manage and administer the MSU System?
President Habib: Well, I have been exposed in training how to promote peace and development in Mindanao, how to negotiate for the success of the peace process and I have been a resource person and speaker in different symposia and conferences in Mindanao designed to promote the peace process and the attainment of the resolution of conflict in Mindanao.
RGO: So, with your administration, sir, what are we going to expect from you, especially, vis-a vis the MSU Marawi and the other campuses.
President Habib: First, I would like to reform the mis-utilization of policies. I will improve and develop the policies of the university. I will enhance the development of the university to satisfy the MSU constituents and its clients.
RGO: These are two but very big plans. With MSU-IIT being in Iligan sir, what can the constituents of MSU-IIT expect from the MSU System administration? Do we get the same support or more support?
President Habib: Well, our external campuses will enjoy the development programs of the Mindanao State University. We are doing our best not only for the development of the main campus in Marawi City but for the development of all campuses. We are going to make fair utilization of development funds [so] that all campuses will enjoy these funds that we can get from abroad and from the national government.
RGO: Have you been to the MSU-IIT Campus, sir?
President Habib: Yes, before.
RGO: Do you know Dr. Jamail Kamlian, our campus secretary?
President Habib: Ah, yeah. Dr. Kamlian used to be my schoolmate at the main campus then we were together when we took up our doctoral degree at the University of the Philippines at Diliman Quezon City. So, may subject kami sa study center. Ito si Dr. Ali Panda was also our classmate together with James Kamlian. So, we were classmates in two subjects kasi kumukuha ako ng cognate courses sa Asian Center.
RGO: My boss Chancellor Tanggol said he was also your colleague at the Public Administration?
President Habib: Yes. Dr. Tanggol is my co-faculty in the College of Public Affairs before he became the Chancellor of MSU-IIT. We belong to the same fraternity Beta Sigma. When we were students, we were also very close because of the associations where we belong together.
RGO: One last question sir. If there is going to be a change, what would be those changes for MSU under your administration?
President Habib: We have to reform the personnel complement of the Mindanao State University. We have so many contractual employees nowadays. Imagine the library department alone has more than 100 contractual employees and also in other units of the university. So, what we are going to do is that we will estimate how many employees are needed by the units. As much as possible, we will do our best to make this jive with what the units need.
RGO: That also goes for employees under Job Order contracts, right?
President Habib: Yes, and we will also do our best to develop our linkages so that the funds and the development programs will be enjoyed by the Mindanao State University System.
RGO: Sir, coming into your office, I noticed there was a sign which says something about the application letters. Are you expecting a huge deal of applications?
President Habib: Yeah. One of my early problems is the coming of so many applicants. I have been advising these people to go directly to the Personnel [Office] so that the Personnel can filter them but due to [Maranao] culture, some people penetrate the Office of the President for these matters. So, yan ang isang problema ko. There are so many applicants.
RGO: Okay, sir. We won’t take up [any] more of your time. Thank you.
Topics : MSU MSU President Dr. Habib Macaayong OPI
