Core Values

Core values are the very essence that defines and directs an organization. UP SURP adheres to the four core values, which will set out the basis of professional and ethical conduct for each individual: Selfless Service, Unity, Respect, Passion for Purpose and People (SURP).

Selfless Service
Service is an intrinsic value revered above all by the University of the Philippines. To “serve the people” is a credo lived by countless graduates of the university, all in the name of honor and excellence. Selfless service takes this further, where selflessness means rising above oneself, and dedicating one’s purpose and actions for the greater good. Selfless service integrated into the mandate of the School ensures that it can give back in a more meaningful and fulfilling way to the people and the country.

Unity
Unity as a core value is the strength and backbone of every organization. Building unity entails instilling a strong sense of trust, teamwork, and cooperation among colleagues. Each of the offices of the School is defined by its set of goals and responsibilities but forms part of a bigger whole. An interdependent relationship among the units exists where every office complements and renders support to the other. Clear communication and the smooth flow of data and information among offices result in a seamless and unified system of management.

Respect
The planning profession is an amalgamation of knowledge and ideas, both old and new. Owing to its multifaceted characteristics, planning is a continuously evolving field with new and innovative ideas constantly produced. As such, it is inevitable to have opposing views and opinions on solutions to development issues. To have a healthy respect for colleagues opens avenues for discourse and rhetoric; this ensures everyone the right to participate, debate, and argue, and at the end of the day, still maintain a collegial relationship among co-workers.

Passion for Purpose and People
To have a passion for one’s job gives someone a purpose at work. To nurture a passion for people results in selfless service. Passion is a core value that fuels one’s purpose and makes it more meaningful to connect with people. The School’s mandate constantly puts its members in the path of students, partners, and stakeholders. To have a burning sense of purpose and the desire to be of service to others gives a person a sense of pride to perform, fulfill, and contribute to the organization.