Tarlac Agricultural University President, Dr. Max P. Guillermo, secures his second term as approved by the Board of Regents (BOR), upon the recommendation of the Evaluation Committee for President (ECP), during its 1^st Quarter BOR meeting via Google Meet on July 1, 2020.

The ECP presented to the BOR members the results of their evaluation after they had identified the numerous milestones accomplished by the University through Dr. Guillermo’s leadership. The committee was organized last November 8, 2019 by the TAU BOR when the latter passed Resolution No. 66 s. 2019, creating the Evaluation Committee to assess President Guillermo's performance during his first term in office. The said BOR Resolution was pursued per CHED Memorandum Order No. 16 s. 2009, Rules and Regulations Governing the Search for President of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

 The committee chaired by Dr. William D. Dar of Department of Agriculture with members Ms. Lora Y. Yusi and Dr. Maria Teresita M. Semana as the CHED representatives, Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo as the PASUC Representative, Engr. Cesario L. Tabago as the private sector representative, and Dr. Esmeralda P. Rodriguez as the academic sector representative were identified by the BOR.

The committee initially met on February 13, 2020 at the Department of Agriculture Central Office in Quezon City to discuss plans in evaluating Dr. Guillermo's accomplishments during his tenure. When the news about the COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed the entire Luzon in mid-March, they had waited until the situation eased up before resuming the evaluation process.

Notwithstanding COVID-19 pandemic, the committee pursued the process of Dr. Guillermo's evaluation after the national government placed Central Luzon under the General Community Quarantine last June. The committee's second meeting was held on June 11, 2020 via Zoom, wherein they had first administered documentary evaluation.

On June 26, 2020, the committee conducted a campus visit and interviewed stakeholders (partners, LGU, alumni, faculty members, non-teaching staff, and students). After the scheduled activities, the evaluators deliberated and consolidated the final results, revealing that Dr. Guillermo had an outstanding performance as TAU President. 

It can be recalled that for almost a decade, since the time TAU was still Tarlac College of Agriculture, Dr. Guillermo served as President of the institution. He assumed the presidency at TCA on January 14, 2010 and through his leadership, then TCA, now TAU, has been aggressive in embarking for academic recognitions in the country and abroad.

In 2016, under the leadership of President Guillermo, the institution successfully received merits from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and has made the record as the first AACCUP Institutionally Accredited State College in the Philippines. Moreover, the TAU's College of Education was designated as the Center of Excellence in Teacher Education while the College of Agriculture and Forestry was acknowledged as the Center of Development in Agriculture on January 1, 2016. On May 10, 2016, the institution made its major leap as it was officially converted into a University under the Republic Act No. 10800 signed by the then Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III.

During his first term as University President, Dr. Guillermo strengthened the local and international linkages and partnerships, increased the technological and research-based production, amplified the reach of community services, prioritized infrastructure development, established relevant training centers and research facilities, and supported human resource development. In 2018, the TAU earned Level IV State University status from Level III. A year later, TAU's Research, Extension, and Training successfully passed the ISO 9001: 2015 certification, and is now yearning to submit the whole university system and processes for the said ISO surveillance audit.

Upon presenting the relevant accomplishments of the University to the BOR, Sec. Dar affirmed that Dr. Guillermo has been proactively changing the path of the institution as it is leaning towards international recognitions. With the approval of the Board of Regents, Dr. Guillermo took oath on July 1, and he shall continue serving and leading the TAU community in achieving more exceptional merits from the academic communities, local and abroad. (RCalpito, PDO)