TRANSITIONS

SPECIAL ISSUEUSC-CSCELECTIONS2011FEBRUARY 22,2011

Tasks at handAmid students’ struggle against fee hikes, education

budget cuts, and campus repression, UPLB students are now facing a change of leadership that will greatly influence the course of action for the student institutions next academic year.

Different individuals and parties are vying for our votes in order to land seats in the University Student Council (USC) and the College Student Councils (CSC). Apart from the usual brand of politicking that we got used with especially during national and local elections, the candidates are also compelled to offer solutions to a problematic automated elec-tions. As of press time, the election process remains cloudy on the part of the students.

We may want to further dwell into the roots of the prob-lem and perhaps, point fingers, in light of protecting the democratic atmosphere in UPLB. But here we stand with an urgent task of choosing our next student leaders—those that will keep the student institutions away from all this fiasco in the coming year.

Right now, we are faced with the challenge of sifting through all the rhetoric with a little time left. Buklod-UPLB promotes a value-laden politics with its slogan: Initiative,

Involvement, Integrity. MOVE UP claims that progressive leadership means putting an end to issue-based politics. SAKBAYAN asserts for the creation of broadest student unities to uphold democratic rights and genuine consultative leadership.

History itself has set for us the standards we must use to objectively choose who among these candidates deserve the honor of representing the students.

The Preamble of the USC Constitution clearly explains the

“autonomous, representative and democratic” orientation of the student councils. We need student representatives that shall abide by the contents of Article II, “Declaration of Prin-ciples and Objectives” which explicitly states that “education is a right and not a privilege.” The same Article mandates that the University must uphold a “scientific, nationalist and pro-people” education.

The challenges of the times reaffirm the relevance of this orientation. Come Feb. 23-24, every UPLB student is tasked to vote for student leaders who will push the USC toward these ends. [P]

August 2010 University Student Council (USC) convened the students through the Council of Student Leaders (CSL) meeting and included automated elections in the agenda but it was not discussed due to time constraints.

September 2010 The USC, through its representative Chairperson Ernest Francis Calayag, proposed to the Central Electoral Board (CEB) the automation of 2011 elections. The proposal banks on automated election’s efficiency, reduced costs, and higher voter turnout. The CEB created an Ad Hoc Committee that would instigate the study on automated elections. The committee was comprised of College Secretaries of College of Development Communication (CDC), College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT), College of Agriculture (CA), with Students’ Organizations and Activities Division (SOAD) Head, Chairpersons of College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and CA, UPLB Perspective Editor in Chief, and USC Chairperson.

November to December 2010 The Ad Hoc Committee deliberated on the automation of elections. Young Software Engineers Society (YSES) from UPLB and UP Linux Group (UnPLUG) from UP Diliman presented their software to the committee. YSES was still in the process of completing their software that costs 20,000 pesos while UnPLUG’s software is being used by UP Manila and UP Diliman for free. The Ad Hoc Committee submitted a paper to the CEB with its suggestion, based on the deliberations, to approve the automation of elections. However, it resolved to leave to the CEB the decision on which programmer to tap.

January 7, 2011 CEB approved the first full scale implementation of automated elections in UPLB. Dr. Vivian Gonzales pledged 20,000 pesos for YSES for the two programmers to have equal playing field. After CEB deliberation, YSES was chosen as the winning bidder with 8 out of 12 votes over UnPLUG provided that they finish their program after a week and conduct a dry run to see if the program works.

January 18, 2011 YSES conducted the dry run at a PC laboratory of the Institute of Computer Science. There were 86 participants. Due to the lack of check-and-balance mechanism in the first dry run of the program, the CEB resolved to conduct another dry run of the automated elections alongside manual elections as check-and-balance mechanism. After assessment of the first dry run, YSES program was approved. Election schedule was approved.

EDITORIAL

January 13, 2011 USC called for a Council of Student Leaders (CSL) meeting and included automated election in the agenda. Calayag informed the students that the election would be automated. Due to time constraints, the automation was not discussed further and Calayag listened to the input of some students who were left in the CSL. Students proclaimed that they were not properly consulted regarding the automation. One programming organization said that they were not invited by the CEB to participate in the bidding for the software programming despite Calayag’s claim that the USC distributed invitation letters to all computer science organizations who are willing to create a program for the automated elections. Calayag said it might have been an honest mistake by the council.

January 24, 2011 As regards to the proposal to hold parallel manual voting during the second dry run, Calayag registered his wariness that some students might deliberately cast conflicting votes using the automated and manual process just to destabilize the election dry run. With this, the body decided to have print outs instead of manual voting so that the dilemma presented by Calayag can be avoided. CEB approved the qualification of candidates. CEB members agreed to send the election guidelines used last year to all CEB members through electronic mail where they could input comments and suggestions that would be passed back to SOAD and would be considered for the next CEB meeting.

January 27, 2011 The second dry run of the YSES’ software was conducted in CDC, CVM, CEAT, and GS as minor precincts, and the Physical Sciences building as major precinct.

February 1, 2011 Dry run results were presented to the body. A few discrepancy between the election results generated by the program and the print outs were registered. They were attributed to human error in the canvassing of the print outs as some colleges started without the printer, requiring the voters to instead do manual voting alongside automated elections. It was noted that some print outs were unreadable and mention surnames that are the same as with the other candidates used in the program. It was re-affirmed, based on this dry run, that full implementation of automated elections in UPLB can proceed. Revision of 2010 election guidelines also started so as to come up with this year’s.

February 7, 2011 Calayag, who used to represent the USC in the CEB, filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC). Carlo Angelo Cruz, incumbent USC Councilor, was authorized to represent the USC in the CEB.

SAKBAYAN submitted a position paper regarding the implications of the pursuance of the automation which was not discussed since it was not included in the agenda and the proposal lacked proper addressee. CEB approved the candidates who were able to submit their COCs to the College Secretary’s Office for signature on or before 12 noon. Identified late filers were April Carla Conde, BUKLOD-UPLB Chairperson, Cheska Arla Agrupis, BUKLOD USC Councilor, Mariel Valdez and Gabrielle Marie Cabrera, SAKBAYAN USC Councilors, Ma. Elena Carlos, SAKBAYAN CAS Councilor, and Sheena Marie Alsisto, SAKBAYAN College of Forestry and Natural Resources Councilor. SAKBAYAN CAS Chairperson Ren Antoine de Leon, Vice Chairperson Erica Mae Chiong College Representative Ma. Carla Fatima Bertulfo, and Councilor Mary Joy Dalisay with BUKLOD CAS Councilor Kristine Diane Sison were considered late filers.

February 8, 2011 SAKBAYAN clarified to the CEB that their CAS Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, College Representative, and Councilor were not late filers by providing data from the College Secretary’s Office. CAS reviewed its files and admitted the errors. The CEB accepted the COCs of the mentioned candidates from SAKBAYAN. SAKBAYAN and BUKLOD sent a letter to the CEB for reconsideration of their candidates’ COCs. CEB posted the official list of USC-CSC elections candidates.

February 9, 2011 USC conducted its 3rd CSL meeting where it should discuss the voting process on the automated election. Supposedly, a representative from YSES will explain the software but they had to leave earlier. Diana Marie Mula, Vice-Chairperson of USC, claimed she was reaching Calayag to authorize her as USC’s representative to the CEB meeting last February 7 the latter instead authorized Cruz. The CSL body supported Mula in representing the USC in accordance to the rule of succession and as assurance that no conflict of interest shall arise inside the body as Cruz is President of Movement of Students for Progressive Leadership (MOVE UP). Many questions rose from the body regarding the security and integrity of the automated elections as well as the specific details of its conduct but the Council was unable to answer them. According to Mula, Calayag did not inform the council on USC’s commitment in the upcoming elections. Also, the case late filers of COC were raised. It was resolved that the USC will move for the appeal to reconsider their candidacy to the CEB.

February 10, 2011 Letter requesting the members of the CEB to convene was presented to the CSL.

February 17, 2011 CEB members convened after the quorum was reached. The first agendum was the appeal to reconsider the candidacy of late filers in encouragement of student involvement and democratic participation. The board stood firm in its decision not to open for consideration the case of the late filers as it has already decided on the matter in its previous meeting. CEB discarded the proposal of Mula, together with Estel Lenwij Estropia, Editor in Chief of UPLB Perspective, to conduct simultaneous manual and automated voting to countercheck the results of the program given that this is the first time that UPLB would implement the automation. The said proposal was in accordance to the resolution of the CSL regarding the absence of check-and-balance mechanism in the elections. Mula and Estropia then proposed to have printouts of the votes as what was done in the second dry run. The CEB considered the principle of check and balance. It was then resolved that the USC will have to draft the detailed proposal for the automated elections with check-and-balance mechanism which shall be the body’s basis of deliberation and approval of the change. Being Mula’s first time to represent the USC in the CEB, she claimed that it was only during this meeting when she knew of the commitments the USC accepted in terms of preparing the logistical and financial aspects of the automated elections.

February 18, 2011 USC Election AdHoc Committee members Mula and Christian Ray Buendia discussed with the CEB their drafted proposal. The said proposal was developed by the USC, Perspective, CFNR student council, and SAKBAYAN in consultation with a YSES representative. CEB members requested for a more concrete plan of their proposal, which includes budget proposal, canvassing guidelines, and logistical affairs. The body agreed that they see the necessity of the check-and-balance mechanism in establishing the credibility of the program in its first application. However the body still has queries on the possibility of having a print out considering its logistical and financial aspects. The USC is to submit the nitty gritty of the proposal on Feb 21 to SOAD. As agreed upon, the CEB will convene if the necessity for a convention arises.

As of press time, the CEB is to decide whether to approve the proposed check-and-balance mechanism or not, so the standing decision is to conduct automated elections alone. Meanwhile, the logistical needs such as computers, installation of the software to the server, internet connection, election officers and student volunteers, as well as their training for the automated elections are still being processed. [P]

It would appeal best to the interest of UPLB stu-dentry to know where do triumphs of candidates for elections settle when votes have already been cast.

Blue, red and yellow flyers mark the nearing 2011 University Student Council-College Student Council Elections, the atmosphere of eclectic politics. Though, student representation is colourless. We always we seek much of candour from relevant actors in an elec-tion scene – from the representatives in the Central Electoral Board to the candidates and constituents.

Year after year, though, such atmosphere has to settle on the grounds of empowering the students’ freedom to choose, right to vote, and more importantly right to be represented. After all, despite complexities in making the exercise of these basic rights possible, triumph must benefit the electorate.

This is why it interests us how the Central Electoral Board (CEB) had handled the scaffolding of automated elections. CEB plays vital role in amending and recom-mending policies to govern the election process. During early quarters of each academic year, they are expected to deliberate on matters regarding elections. This year, however, the CEB seems to have lost its fierceness and loosened its standards when it deliberately approved on January 7 the proposal of University Student Coun-cil headed by on-leave Chairperson Ernest Calayag to automate elections. This decision came with the lack of scrutiny, not merely of the program to be used, but of the logistical and financial bearings of the change in manner of elections. The proposal would have been speculated far beyond how it was projected by the proponent but by how it might set unexpected scenes before, during, and after the elections. We are afraid that in taking it as a considerable logistical leap, we can be misguided.

This year holds remarkable transition from manual to automated elections. But like the national automat-ed elections in 2010, this considerable logistical leap is feared to cause issues of fraudulence and inaccuracy in the lack of sufficient check-and-balance mechanism.

We never question the intent of fast-paced and low cost election procedure as rationale for the shift. How-ever, the execution of this new voting system among the UPLB constituents is abrupt and without any contingency plan. Errors seem inevitable and alarming that even the CEB seems to disintegrate when it comes to decision-making as regards automation.

Case in point: they failed to consider the possi-bilities of fraud with poll automation in the absence of check-and-balance mechanism. Graver instance: they approved the proposal without ensuring its nitty-gritty. We are just days away from the election proper and student representatives in the board still have to lobby for a reasonable procedure.

CastingVigilance

EDITORIALChronology of events on the full implementation of the automation of USC-CSC elections

(casting vigilance...p.04)

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : USC-CSC ELECTIONS : FEBRUARY 22, 2011

Kung titingnan natin yung conditional cash transfer o PPPP sa unang tingin ay maganda nga naman yung intent na ... to give support to the poorest of the poor, dito sa Pilipinas. Subalit kung titingnan natin sa mas malalim pang anggulo, yung pagbibigay niya ng 1,400 a month kada pamilya, ... ay umutang pa siya ng pera sa ibang bansa. So, sa sitwasyon na ‘yun, kung irerelate ko siya sa mababang rate of employment dito sa bansa, pwede nating sabihin na kung halimbawa, imbis na nagfocus siya sa pagbibigay ng monetary support which is eventually mauubos, maeexhaust... sana ginamit niya ‘yung inutang niyang pera for producing more job opportunities dito sa bansa. At halimbawa, kung sa pagpapautang ng pera nitong ADB at World Bank ay nagfocus siya sa pagpapayaman ng local industries ng Pilipinas at hindi doon sa multinational transnational corporations, at the end, ‘yung mga income na makukuha nung mga local industries sa Pilipinas ay magsi-circulate lang din dito within the Philippines at hindi siya mapupunta ultimately sa ibang bansa. So yun ... nirerelate ko siya in a way na parang binaliktad ko, na kung ito ang ginawa niya, mas mataas sana yung rate of employment.

Bilang isang estudyante na nag-aaspire na magkaroon ng posisyon sa konseho ng mag-aaral dito sa UPLB, no doubt, 10 yung rating ko sa student consultation, dahilan dito ay nasa USC Constitution naman na... ang constituents naman talaga ng USC o kahit anumang college student councils ay ang malawak na bilang ng estudyante dito sa UPLB...Dun sa importansya, kasi ... kung ... magkokonsulta ka man, halimbawa ay magpapatupad ka ng isang policy o magsasagawa ka ng activities, or gagawa ka man ng kontrata, importante na kukunsultahin mo as much as possible ideally, lahat ng constituents mo, kung hindi man lahat, yung pinakamaraming bilang na maaabot mo gamit ang makinarya na at your disposal which is yung institution na USC. Kasi kung halimbawa ... magsasagawa ka ng activity, ‘pag properly na naconsult mo yung constituents

mo, maeensure mo na yung isasagawang activity ay hindi lang suportado ng mga estudyante dito sa Los Banos ... siguradong tagumpay ito. Kasi ‘yung objectives, yung magiging larga ng activity ay para dun

sa interes nung nakararaming estudyante dito UPLB.

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SAKBAYAN

ELECTIONS 2011SAMAHAN NG KABATAAN PARA SA BAYAN (SAKBAYAN) was established by 25 student organizations, fraternities and sororities on July 1, 1996 as an alliance against commercialization of education and campus repression. Since its establishment the alliance unwaveringly stands to advance a pro-student and pro-people education. Currently, SAKBAYAN remains to be the WIDEST ALLIANCE of student organizations, fraternities and sororities throughout the University of the Philippines System with 58 member-organizations and an affiliate alliance.

HISTORY OF SELFLESS SERVICE

• Uniting the studentry in the advancement of their rights and welfare • Promoting democratic rights of various sectors in the university • Linking student causes to people’s causes

CONSISTENT AND UNCOMPROMISING LEADERSHIP

SAKBAYAN unites the broadest mass of students and other sectors to achieve their democratic aspirations. The dismal condition of education system calls us all to forge unity and SAKBAYAN unwaveringly allies itself even with its contend-ers in campus elections to stand together as one in front of challenges to our right to free and quality education.

LINE WORKS

Leadership trainingsLeadership seminars, workshops on public speaking, writing for advocacy, finance and alliance work, etc.Socio-political issuesFora, alternative classes, educational discussions and regular publication of the alliance’s newsletter SANGHAYA, outreach programs, benefit and advocacy concerts, etc.Student assembliesAll Leaders’ Meeting (ALM)—a weekly assembly of representatives of SAKBAYAN’s member-orgs, congresses, conven-tions, all student assemblies, etc.

HISTORY

USC CHAIRPERSON

Pura Beatriz “PURA” ValleMS Forestry ‘05, 22 years old

USC VICE CHAIRPERSON

Reginald Nathaniel “RN” LumasagBS Communication Arts ‘08, 19 years old

USC COUNCILOR

Manne Andrew “GIBO”LumbaBS Biology ‘09, 18 years old

USC COUNCILOR

Adrian Christopher “RAKS”MijaresPre Veterinary Medicine ‘09, 18 years old

USC COUNCILOR

Jorge Michael “HORHE” DominguezBS Agriculture ‘09, 18 years old

USC COUNCILOR

Jamie Fiel “JAMIE” MadrilejosBS Nutrition ‘07, 19 years old

USC COUNCILOR

Francis Xavier “X”GarciaBS Agricultural Engineering ‘08, 19 years old

Sa aking opinion, ang naging epekto nito sa unibersidad ay ang pagiging independent nito sa

pag-gawa ng desisyon or kung paano nila i-a-aproach yung mga issues dito sa campus. Isa pa ay ang pagiging

aware ng unibersidad sa mga issues hindi lamang sa loob ng campus kundi sa labas din or sa bayan mismo.

Yung nakikita ko namang koneksyon sa dalawang seksyon ay yung patuloy na ... nasasagkaan yung karapatan natin sa

edukasyon dahil ... yung una, pag-iimpose ng maraming fees tapos yung pangalawa

ay ‘yung threat ng pagkokomersyalisa ng edukasyon dahil sa privatization ng unibersidad, so

parang ang nangyayari dun, ... yung commercialization ng edukasyon, pagtataas ng fees ay hindi na tayo naiiba sa ibang universities and colleges tulad ng UE, CEU na sobrang tataas ng fees. At ano ba yung katangian nitong mga nabanggit kong unibersidad, sila ay mga private universities. So yung HEMA isa siyang paraan para i-push talaga ‘yung commercialization ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas at tulad ng kalagayan natin sa UP, si former President Roman, isa din ‘to sa mga pinupush niya yung HEMA at pagpapaprivatize ng UP tulad na lamang nung sa Ayala TechnoHub at ToFI mismo ay isang form ng commercialization dahil ang nangyayari, yung mga estudyante na lamang na may kakayahang magbayad ng tuition ay sila lamang yung pwedeng makapasok sa university. Ibig sabihin, nagkakaroon ng presyo ang edukasyon sa bansa. Isa siyang form ng commercialization ng edukasyon sa bansa.

Nagkakaugnay ang dalawang seksyon sa nasabing polisiya in terms ng sa pamumuno. Kung anong desisyon ng nahawakan ng nakatataas ay siya yung masusunod pero may konsultasyon din siya na nababase mismo sa mga estudyante. Kunyari ikokonsulta muna tapos kailangan malaman yung tamang reaksyon in terms sa pagpaprivatized ng isang sistema… Nakasaad din naman dun... hawak ng mismong nakatataas ang desisyon kung patataasin nila ang mga fee, para sa dorm fee, lab fee at graduation fee pero dun sa mga nasabing yun, may konsultasyon pa rin na dapat mangyari. Dapat ipahayag para malaman kung anong tamang reaksyon ng mga estudyante ng mga nahahawakan nito ... May karapatan din talaga ang administrasyon na iprivatize ang institusyon ngayon pero hindi ito mageexceed sa mga bagay na pampulitikang bagay lang. Kasi nga paloob siya sa mga sitwasyon ngayon sa UPLB na kunwari sa dorm

fee increase, paglalagay ng mga banga at pag-improve ng mismong UPLB. Dun nabe-base yun.

Nagkakatugma yung dalawa. ... yung board, yung sinasabi nung pang-unang section ... ay yung tuition or yung matriculation fee nga yung bahala ay kung sino nga yung board na mag-aadjust nun tapos yung pangalawa yung privatization parang pag sinabi mo kasing tataasan yung tuition tapos may kasabay siyang privatization, pwede mo siyang tawagin na pagcocommercial

talaga ng edukasyon ng isang state university or college.

UPHOLD democratic, consultative and collective leadership SPEARHEAD UPLB’s institutionalized activities that promote camaraderie among students such as Campus Tour, Freshmen Convocation, Almusalan, February Fair, etc. Design activities, programs and consultation strategies to heighten student participation in University Student Council’s (USC) decision-making bodies.CONDUCT comprehensive consultation such as open forums and discussions. Conduct regular Council of Student Leaders (CSL) meetings, org hops, room-to-room discussions, and other student assemblies that shall serve as venues for consultation and information dissemination.STRENGTHEN the council’s official website and publication, the SANGGUNIAN, to promote free exchange of ideas and opinionsINSTITUTIONALIZE the representation of the Freshmen Block Assembly (FBA), Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC), Alliance of Dorm Association and other student alliances as ex-officio members of the USCSTRENGTHEN the USC Volunteer Corps to encourage direct participation of students in the council’s program of actionENCOURAGE all college student councils to actively participate in drafting unities and resolutions in the Student Legislative Chamber (SLC)ASSERT for USC and UPLB Perspective’s fiscal autonomy by compelling the UPLB administration to collect the student fund and disburse them without administrative intervention.ASSERT for genuine student representation at all levels of all University’s policy-making bodies such as student welfare and dorm committees.CONTINUE USC’s active participation in student alliances such as the Katipunan ng Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP) and the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) NURTURE a scientific, mass-oriented and nationalist academic community RAISE UPLB community’s social and political awareness by revisiting historical accounts of UPLB and the Philippine society and providing alternative avenues such as alternative classroom learning experiences, forums and symposiums.DEVELOP arts and culture in UPLB in pursuit of academic excellence as well as in upholding its significant role in nation-building. Continue the annual/biannual staging of Isko’t Iska, a theatrical production that promotes consciousness among freshmen students on the current state of UPLB education.SUPPORT UPLB sports development by calling the administration to address the needs of our athletes and varsities and to provide enough funds for their trainings and related activities.

PROMOTE February Fair’s historical tradition as a symbol of collective action and students’ struggle against repression and commercialization of education. INTENSIFY unity among all Iskolar ng Bayan

INTENSIFY our campaign to advance the UPLB Student Agenda and List of General Demands to assert the following student concerns: • ASSERT for the students’ right to organize and freely hold activities. Support student organizations’ fight against repressive policies such as the implementation of OSA Memo No. 1 and tambayan phase-out. • ASSERT for the students’ free access to university facilities. • TAKE PART in the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) and UPLB administration’s efforts to promote a pro-student and pro-people academic community. STRENGTHEN the Dorm Council Alliance and mobilize the dormers to initiate campaigns against imminent dorm fee increases. SCRAP proposals to increase PE fee and laboratory fee in the College of Veterinary Medicine. STRENGTHEN USC’s Student Rights and Welfare Committee and create special committees for particular concerns such as gender and sports EXPOSE AND OPPOSE campus political repression and militarization. Call for the ouster of OSA director Lt. Col. Vivian V. Gonzales. Assert for the dismissal of politically motivated cases against student leaders and organizations pending in the Student Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) TRANSCEND the boundaries of the academe and uphold a pro-people university UPHOLD genuine service to the people, especially to farmers and workers, emphasizing UPLB’s role as Asia’s Center of Excellence in AgricultureADVANCE the victory of the education sector toward the strengthening of public social servicesCONTINUE our fight to scrap Office of the Chancellor Memo No. 001 (Series of 2010) and compel the Board of Regents to create the review committee on the Large Lecture Class Policy (LLCP) and the Revitalized General Education Program (RGEP) in pursuit of academic freedom and academic excellence.EXPOSE AND OPPOSE commercialization schemes such as SU privatization, imposition of exorbitant fees and other policies that fail to go through sufficient

GENERAL PLAN OF ACTION democratic consultations. Mobilize the students to actively demonstrate their opposition to these policiesPUSH for the creation of study committees with the aim of updating policy reviews on tuition and other fees Increase (TOFI), STFAP, etc. ENGAGE with the different sectors in UPLB and the whole society ACTIVELY ENGAGE in multi-sectoral formations and advocacies such as KILOS NA, Save our Education Movement and Strike the Hike Movement.SUPPORT the faculty, non-academic and research personnel, and other sectors in UPLB and adjacent communities to protect their democratic rights. • SUPPORT UPLB workers’ fight for a democratic, just and fair promotion. • CALL for the granting of COLA (cost of living allowance) to UPLB workers. • CALL for the abolition of proposal to increase faculty housing rates. • DEFEND the rights of jeepney and pedicab drivers and ambulant vendors to a decent livelihood. • PROTECT informal settlers in UP lands against imminent demolition. • INITIATE close coordination between the students and other sectors by forging multi-sectoral alliances.SUPPORT KABATAAN party-list, the sole representation of the youth in Congress. Unite with all sectors in calling on the Congress to legislate a 5-year moratorium and rollback on tuition for immediate economic relief. TO FIGHT: - FOR EDUCATION AND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS! - FOR GENUINE SOCIAL CHANGE! ACTIVELY MOBILIZE the students to join the LAKBAYAN ng mga Mamamayan sa Timog Katagalugan for the advancement of national interest and soveriegntyASSERT for higher national budget allocation on social services! Call to rechannel national funds toward higher state subsidy on education, health care and housingUPHOLD FARMERS’ RIGHTS to their lands! Push for the passing of the Genuine Agrarian Reform BillUPHOLD WORKERS’ RIGHTS! Call for a P125 across-the-board nationwide wage increaseUPHOLD CONSUMER RIGHTS! Call for the abolition of the 12 percent VAT (value-added tax) on electricity and oil. Actively oppose all unjust price hikes!

Yung nabuong truth commission na yun ay pinamumunuan ni Davide na kilala rin naman na kaalyado ng administrasyon ni Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at nakapagtataka lang na siya yung

napili sa truth commission na ito. Ito ba talaga ay naglalayon na isiwalat yung katotohanan sa mga naganap na katiwalian at korapsyon sa panahon ni Gloria? Nakakaapekto ito sa kalagayan

ng UP bilang pamantasan ng bayan dahil karamihan ng ...kaso na tututukan nitong truth commission ay kinabibilangan ng mga congressman... na kabilang doon sa mga nag-aaprove ng iba’t ibang policies na

makaaapekto sa pamamalakad sa loob ng UP. So, nabanggit ko nga na itong truth commission ... ay hindi efficient at hindi natin matatawag na wala talagang side. Kung kaya, kung hindi tayo sigurado na magiging makatotohanan ang pag-aaral at pag-iimbestiga nitong truth commission ... ay hindi rin tayo makakasigurado na mananagot ‘yung mga taong nasa kongreso ngayon at tanda natin na ang mga taong nasa kongreso ngayon, sila rin yung karamihan sa mga government officials nung time ni Gloria. Nung time ni Gloria naganap yung ToFI at hindi sila mananagot dahil nga dito sa inefficient truth commission ay hindi pa rin natin mapapagtagumpayan ang ating panawagan na irollback ang ToFI... At ang UP bilang pamantasan ng bayan, ito ay merong character na libre o abot-kayang tuition na maabot ng karamihan ng mga Pilipino.

Yung naganap na 200+M na kaltas sa budget, ang nakaltas dito ay kinabibilangan ng mga kaltas sa budget on capital outlay at maintenance and other operating expenditures at sa kaso ng mga dormitories, kinukuha po ang pondo na pang-maintain at pang-improve ng dormitories dapat sa MOOE. Isang aspeto na nakaltasan ng pondo. Dahil nakaltasan nga ‘yung pondo sa MooE, nag-push itong ating UPLB Housing office na gumawa ng adaptation measure kung saan makakakuha pa rin ito ng pera para ma-maintain yung mga dormitories at isang sistema nun ay ang pagkuha ng part of ToFI increment para ipangrepair at ipangimprove ng dormitories na sa tingin natin ay hindi dapat dahil nung ipinropose ang ToFI, sinasabi na ito ay para sa improvement of academic facilities at ang dormitory facilities at dormitory improvement nga ay kinukuha sa MooE. Ngayon, aside from pagkuha ng pondo from tuition incremental, ang isa pang adaptation mechanism na ginawa ng University Housing Office ay ang pagkuha ng pangmaintain ng dorm mula sa mga estudyante na nasa porma ng dorm fee increase at ito ay objectively, masasabi nating kukuhanin siya sa mga estudyante dahil dun sa binuong UPLB Housing Trust Fund kung saan dito na sa trust fund na ito kukuhanin ang pangmaintain ng dormitories at hindi na tayo kukuha sa MOOE nung mga pangpasweldo sa mga guards, panglinis ng CR, pangpasweldo sa mga naglilinis ng dorms. At dito rin sa UPLBHTF mapupunta yung makokolektang fees sa mga dorm kaya magiging self-liquidating na yung mga dormitories. Yung mga residente na doon ang magpopondo ng repair ng mga dorms pero kelangan din natin maging mapagmatyag doon na hindi dahil tumaas yung dorm fee ay makakaasa na tayo na gaganda na yung facilitites sa dorms dahil nasabi naman nung final consultation ng UHO sa mga estudyante na bagamat magtaas tayo ng dorm fee ay hindi pa rin masasagot yung deficit kaya yung pagtaas ng fee ay pangsagot lang din doon sa kakulangan kayawala tayong mga guards s o doon mapupunta yun. Hindi siya magagamit for improvement of dormitories.

Dahil ang tinatakbuhan ngayon ng Sakbayan ay ang University Student Council, kailangang tumangan tayo sa mga prinsipyo na nasasaad sa ating konstitusyon, sa USC-CSC constitution at ang pinakaunang prinsipyo na nakalagay dito ay ‘Education is a right and not a privilege.’ Kaya mula sa mga katagang ito, na ilalagay ko sa placard, mag-uusbong na yung iba’t ibang pamamaraan kung paano natin pamumunuan at ikokonsulta ang mga estudyante.

USC COUNCILORYnik “YNIK”AnteBS Development Communication ‘08, 19 years old

Ah, nakakaapekto ‘yung, ... pagpapalit ng mukha mula sa BOT papuntang PPP, dahil kung titignan natin, sa mas malawakang saklaw, ang PPP naman ay isang form ng commercialization, at

privatization ... ng mga public property o government-owned property. Mas makakaapekto siya sa UP, siyempre mas madederekta ko siyang maikokonekta sa education sector. Pumapasok ‘yung PPP

doon sa pagco-combine ng mga SUCs. Halimbawa na lang, doon sa may bandang Luzon, dalawang state university ‘yung pinaghalo at ngayon ay isa na siyang mas malawakang state university. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay Northern Luzon State University na ‘yung pangalan niya ngayon. Mas nakakaapekto siya lalo na sa usapin ng budget dahil ... tinitipid na tayo ng gobyerno, ibig sabihin nun, dito sa UP, kulang na nga tayo sa budget, ay kakaltasan pa.

USC COUNCILOR

Nolanietzel “NOLAN”SitchonBS Agriculture ‘10,17 years old

Yung unang polisiya, sa pagkakaintindi ko ay mas fixed of fees tapos yung pangalawa ay privatizations ng mga assets ng campus. So para mapag-ugnay sila ay pagseset ng fixed fee maikokonekta natin

siya sa privatization ng mga buildings at ng private assets dito sa campus kasi yung sa issue ng lab fees,

ToFI, maihahalintulad natin siya sa privatization kasi nagiging under sila ng pagcocomercialize ng education dito sa ating campus. Bakit? Una, bilang ang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ay isang pamantasan para sa bayan ay maging isang abot-kayang edukasyon kung sa dapat. Ngunit dahil nga sa ToFI, maraming nakakapasa na hindi na nakakayang makapasok dito sa campus dahil kulang sa pinansya. At para irelate naman siya sa mga privatizations ng mga buildings, ng assets, dapat ito ay para sa mga estudyante... Ito ay tungkulin ng administration para magserve sa students. So, makikita natin ‘yung connection na ang education dapat ay abot-kaya at ito’y tungkulin ng ating gobyerno. At ang mga assets naman ng campus, ito ay karapatan ng mga estudyante na makuha...

USC COUNCILOR

Allen Lemuel “LEM” LemenceBS Industrial Engineering ‘10, 16 years old

Dun po sa higher education modernization act of 1997, yung sa unang punto po sinasabi na pwedeng

magkaroon ng adjustments yung Board of Regents sa UP. Pwede nila iadjust yung matriculation fee, o yung iba

pang fee na ipinapataw sa mga estudyante sa paaralan natin ay pwede lamang nilang iimpose ito sa pamamagitan

ng consultation nga dun sa ... concerned sectors, which is yung students. Sa ikalawang punto naman po sinasabing pwedeng iprivatize yung mga commercial assets ng pamantasan ... kung nakikitang necessary ito. Mapapagdugtong ko po yun, na maikaclasify ko po yun na isang commercialization scheme sapagkat binibigyan po ng karapatan yung nakatataas na body ng isang pamantasan upang magdecide kung itataas ba nila yung mga fees natin dito sa pamantasan at kaugnay pa nito is yung pangalawang punto na iprivatize daw yung commercial assets ng pamantasan, halimbawa, nakikita ko ito bilang

commercialization scheme at maikokonek natin ito sa hindi pag-aassert ng current administration ng UP ng higher and

sufficient state subsidy.

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Refer to page 4 for the interview questions for the candidates.

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : USC-CSC ELECTIONS ISSUE : FEBRUARY 22, 2011

ELECTIONS 2011

Buklod-UPLB was founded in March 2004 by a group of impassioned students who desired change in the then-dying political scene of UP Los Banos.

Now, on its 6th year of existence, Buklod continues to make waves of change in the campus through projects, advocacies and campaigns for the benefit of the Iskolars Para Sa Bayan. Guided by the pillars of the organization:

Integrity, Initiative and Involvement, everything about BUKLOD revolves around the “Three I’s”.

INTEGRITYBuklod believes that one of the marks of a true leader is Integrity. We believe that the student government of the

Iskolars Para Sa Bayan can be incorruptible and efficient if the leader exhibits integrity.

INITIATIVEBuklod believes that as Iskolars Para Sa Bayan, it is in our power to make waves of change not only in the political

scene, but also in the nation as a whole. We believe in the power of individuality combined.

INVOLVEMENTBuklod believes that in order for Iskolars Para Sa Bayan to achieve their goals collective action is required. We involve

ourselves in nation-building through different means, and are not only limited to militant action and the like.

ACTIVISM REDEFINEDBuklod believes in a broader scope of activism. From its root word, “Active”, activism simply cannot be boxed in

militant actions, its stereotype. While Buklod truly acknowledges militant actions as a strong showing of activism, it en-compasses other socio-cultural areas as well such as the environment, media, sports, academics, family and politics and government. Buklod encourages every Iskolar Para Sa Bayan to revolutionize their mindset toward activism and

take part in nation-building through their own simple and specific ways, and not be limited by stereotypes.

SERVICE is in our DNA. EXCELLENCE is our standard. BUKLOD-UPLB, together with the Iskolars Para Sa Bayan, Dare to act!

HISTORY

BUKLOD - UPLB

USC COUNCILORPaul David “PAUL” CruzBS Sociology ‘07, 19 years old

USC COUNCILORDaryll Kenth “KENTH” MontoyaBS Electrical Engineering ‘10, 17 years old

USC COUNCILORNoah “NOAH” Correa

BS Agriculture ‘08, 19 years old

USC COUNCILORJan Michael “JM” Jose

BS Sociology ‘05, 23 years old

So we can relate the two provisions in its (sic) aim to improve the quality of the education of the students. But these provisions have the tendency to be taken advantage of (sic) just a few people kaya po tayo sa BUKLOD, patuloy nating babantayan na hindi ito mangyayari, na hindi ito magagamit para sa kapakanan lamang ng iilan.

I would like to use the RA 9500 or the UP Charter Bill in answering this question. In the Section 22 of the RA 9500, it states there that the state will provide the national university a lump sum amount (sic) in the form of general appropriations and other financial grants. Basically, it says that doon kinukuha ng UP ang pera

niya kada taon. Sinasabi din sa RA 9500 that the BOR is required to look into fixing the tuition and other fees as they deem necessary. Ibig sabihin, nasa kapangyarihan ng BOR ang pagre-regulate at pagsasaayos

ng tuition fee at iba’t iba pang matrikula na binabayaran ng mga estudyante. Furthermore, the UP charter has set safeguards in relation to the using (sic) of the idle assets of the university ...It has safety nets that it would

ensure that it will not be privatized. Now, relating in (sic) it to each other, should (sic) the Board of Regents do its job to look into and fix, and hopefully regulate the tuition fees and should the state provide enough subsidy, and kung ano ‘yung prinopose na budget ng UP for that year, there will be no need for UP to use its idle assets na icommercialize ito and it would lessen the threat that UP students, UP constituents have of UP being for sale, or UP being privatized or UP being commercialized or state abandonment. Kung ayusin ng BOR ‘yung trabaho niya.

Sa’kin kasi, mauugnay ko ‘yung dalawang bagay na ito, una ‘yung tuition fee kasi dapat ‘yung necessary charges na nandun sa tuition fee ay mag-reflect sa lebel o dun sa serbisyong maihahatid nito sa unibersidad at lalo’t higit dun sa student body, dun sa mga kabataan at sa kapwa ko Iskolar ng bayan. Sa tingin ko, yoong napapanahong pag-usapan talaga ‘yung pagdating sa alokasyon ng pananalapi pagdating sa edukasyon natin dito sa University of the Philippines System ...at sa tingin ko ‘yung kung meron mang mga magiging pagbabago sa tuition fee ay kinakailangang masalamin ito dun sa serbisyong maihahatid nito sa buong, sa bumubuo ng unibersidad lalo’t higit sa student body.

So unang una, bakit ba natin kailangan ayusin ang mga fees? So, again, kung ano ang mga dapat bagay na ma-improve so tuition fees such as matriculation, lab, and grad fees, kung ano lang dapat ‘yung mailaan dun, kung ano ‘yung dapat maibigay dun para sa quality ng education at ‘yun ang ating nais i-prioritize, ang quality ng education. Now why should we privatize ‘yung mga

non-academic services or the money services because it is important for the.. I mean, for quality education to be attained, in terms of the way you study, in terms… I mean, it can affect everything,

it can affect ... the quality of education that you’re going to receive.

I AM BUKLOD. YOU ARE BUKLOD, WE ARE BUKLOD. With seven years of service to the UPLB students, BUKLOD has risen above the challenges of leadership and nation-building. These conditions, however, are continuous as we grow with the community. BUKLOD continues to stand with Integrity, Initiative and Involvement as it calls for a new breed of student leaders to rise up and pass on the vision of reaching out and serving the students, the community, and eventually, the nation. There is a BUKLOD in each one of us.

This year, experience has taught us to go back to our core values, service being our main agenda. As an organization, BUKLOD stands firm in promoting positive change in the campus. We want to reintroduce the identity of BUKLOD by re-emphasizing the reason for our existence, thus, our slogan, I AM BUKLOD. This time, you will not only encounter the standard bearers of the party but also the other members working with a united spirit, standing for the principles and sharing them to the volunteers and to the students in general. BUKLOD shall bring its leadership to the next level to lead the students with better transparency and consultative actions. We want the council this year to be an effective avenue for volunteerism and to empower the organizations and local colleges. Accordingly, our general plan of action will revolve around but will not be limited to the theme SERVICE INTENSIFIED.

SERVE WITH INTEGRITY.

U.P. WATCH. Inform the studentry on campus issues updates through org hops, blogs, volunteer mechanisms, group discussions and video blogsUSC CHECK. Publicize financial reports on the UPLB Perspective and post on the bulletins Criticize. Your USC is open for constructive criticisms via feedback forms for every activity and regular office hours UPROACH. Consultation. Regular CSL meetings foster proactive consultation of students Discussion. Council members and volunteers shall lead group discussions about issues. Connection. Contact details for USC members shall be posted to serve efficiently.ISKO’S WALLET. Finalize the disbursement scheme Organize fund raising activities Prioritize budget allocation from the student funds for the local student councils

SERVE WITH INITIATIVE.

BUILDING NG ISKOLAR. Funds. Organize fund raising activities that will improve facilities. Feasibility. Check the status of facilities in colleges and dormitories. Reinforcement. Lobby to the administration to prioritize the rehabilitation CSC EMPOWERMENT Foundation. hold team buildings that will help improve camaraderie among SCs Constitution. Help the college student councils create their own constitutions Execution. Maximize volunteers for the CSC projects and funding when possible. Participation. Tie-up with activities in the CSCsLUNTIANG U.P. Environmental awareness campaigns Clean up drive inside the campus that will be socio-civic activity for the organizations Initiate a campus-wide solid waste management committee that will consult students and organize ways to effectively implement waste segregation schemeSTFAP 101 Suri STFAP. Review committee for the STFAP to improve the process Sikap STFAP. STFAP assistance from the USC shall involve information dissemination campaigns to new filers and freshmen students about of STFAPBANTAY ISKOLAR. BUKLOD recognizes the need for accessible quality education. Make a proactive stand and resolution against the UP BUDGET CUT through campus-wide campaigns Suspend the full-scale implementation of the LLCP by dialogues and collective resolutions Create a review committee with the All Student Councils’ Assembly and call with the students against the LLCP by means of consulted multidisciplinary measures

SERVE WITH INVOLVEMENT

iLINK. BUKLOD believes that there is a need to maximize the use of social media to engage with the students. Video. Video blogs are an exciting new way to relay relevant information Newsletter. The USC newsletter will be released every two months Poster. USC bulletin boards serve as effective avenues to immediately inform the students about the latest issues in the student council and the university Blog. The USC website shall be updated regularly for the students Text. A quick and open line to your student council will be created for information dissemination.ORG ASSISTANCE Open Lines. Create centralized contact database of schools, sponsors, and people. Organizations can ask about relevant references like potential sponsors for org events Close Lines. Get in touch with the org heads to directly address concerns as well as do org hopsStrong Lines. Strengthen the org alliance beyond colors and beyond biases SERVOLUTION VolCamp. Conduct team building camps for volunteers InVolve. Hold Basic Mass Integration with org delegations and sponsorships SerVoice. Intensify RTRs and group discussions from USC and trained volunteers.DORMBAYAN Dorm alliance. Strengthen dorm alliances and convene with representatives to address the issues of dormers, especially the upcoming dorm fee increase Power Dorm. USC will be visible during dorm visits to build relationships and discuss student issues KnowDorm. The USC shall set up bulletin boards for every dormitory where USC updates will be visibleTERC ok Partner with organizations to organize events for the fund raising of books for TERC Publicize TERC to intensify availability of reference materials for academic purposesFRESH-sko Facilitate events for the freshman Cultivate the leadership skills of freshman representatives through trainings and team building. Motivate the freshmen for service and volunteer work through workshops and group discussions Initiate a Freshman UP handbook useful as they acquaint themselves in the university. Celebrate the freshman welcoming events with a blast by means of the traditional almusalan, campus tour, and new events initiated by the USC.

WE ARE BUKLOD. WE ARE THE CHANGE. WE SERVE BEYOND COLORS. WE ARE SERVICE INTESIFIED!

GENERAL PLAN OF ACTION

USC VICE CHAIRPERSON

Jaime “JAY” Almora, Jr. BS Biology ‘08, 18 years old

I was never for Noynoy. He’s inexperienced and ... hindi ko nagustuhan ‘yung logic niya, anything that he did even while campaigning. So, masasabi ko lang, ‘yung move ... is, to me, pampalipas gutom lang talaga siya, or pang-satisfy ng temporary na gutom na ginawa niya. Instead of concentrating on making jobs available, securing jobs for people, gumawa siya ng temporal na solution. He gave a temporal solution to the poor families siguro para masabi nating may magawa siya agad, in a way. And ... umutang, kinailangan niya pang umutang which is hindi na natin gusto kasi ang dami na nating utang. So dahil sa pag-utang niya pa, madaming kasunod na naging consequences ‘yun like ... kailangan ulit natin mag-allot ng budget for debt servicing and stuff like that. So, for me, ‘yung ginawa niyang pag-utang and then pagbibigay ng like P1,400 every month, it’s still a temporal solution not to mention, mababa yung ganung amount. For me, dapat ang ginawa niya, ‘yung time na ini-spend niya dun, ini-spend niya na lang sana sa paghanap ng job, pagsecure ng job for those poor families para sana hindi ganun kababa ‘yung rate of employment natin sa bansa.

Sa USC, tayo’y (sic) ang representasyon ng mga students sa admin, so, definitely, student consultation would take a 10 if ira-rank natin ‘yun, kasi sa kanila natin kukunin yung kung ano bang gagawin natin, kung ano ba ‘yung mga bagay na ipu-push for natin. So ang mga specific na bagay, unang-una ngayon,sa GPOA pa lang, General Plan of Action, dapat nagcoconsult na tayo sa mga estudyante ... sa kung ano ba ‘yung ii-include natin sa GPOA natin para alam nila kung anong ‘yung gagawin natin, alam din natin kung ano ‘yung gusto nila, and pagkaupo natin, mga unang hakbang pa lang, kino-consult na natin yan. Even ‘yung pag-conduct nung mga prinomise natin na plans, ico-consult din natin ‘yan, even ‘yung mga naconduct na, ico-consult pa din natin yan, at ‘yung mga hindi man natin ico-conduct ‘yung mga biglang dadating na mga bagay-bagay from the admin or mga new issues, ico-consult natin ‘yan sa mga estudyante, how we will face it, how we will remedy (sic) it (sic) kung may problems man.

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PROPOSED STEP-by-STEP PROCEDURE OF AUTOMATED ELECTIONS WITH PRINTOUTS

proposed by the Young Software Engineers Society and adapted by the University Student Council

Refer to page 4 for the interview questions for the candidates.

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : USC-CSC ELECTIONS : FEBRUARY 22, 2011

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ELECTIONS 2011

MOVE UP is a student political party in UPLB that believes in student empowerment, progressive leadership, and social responsibility. MOVE UP believes that UPLB is in need of student leaders who will uphold these principles. VOTE STRAIGHT sa USC! MOVE UP, UPLB!

MOVE U.P.

Sa aking pananaw, ito ay naisip ng pamahalaang Aquino upang solusyunan ang kahirapan sa bansa at ang naging maganda nga rito, ay ‘yung kahit walang trabaho ang mga mamamayang Pilipino ay matutugunan pa rin ang problema sa kahirapan sa pamamagitan nung Constitutional Cash Transfer na kung saan P1,400 kada buwan ang mapupunta sa bawat Pilipino. Sa ganitong paraan, ang mga Pilipino na hindi nakakuha ng trabaho dahil sa mababang ekonomiya ng ating bansa, ay mapapakain pa rin ang kanilang bawat pamilya sa araw araw at sa ganoong paraan rin ay matutustusan ‘yung kanilang pangangailangan sa araw araw at sa ganitong paraan ay maaari din nilang ipadala ang kanilang mga anak sa isang magandang eskwalahan upang tulungan itong makapag-aral at balang araw ay makatulong sa pagdadag sa pagtaas ng ekonomiya ng ating bansa. Sa usapin ng mababang rate ng employment sa Pilipinas ngayon, ito ay isang magandang solusyon upang tustusan ang mga pangangailangan ng mga Pilipino na naghihirap dahil wala silang trabaho at kumakayod ng husto upang makakain lamang sa araw araw.

Kung ire-rate ko ‘yung student consultation from 1-10, ito ay pinakamahalaga at bibigyan ko siya ng 10 sapagkat ... primaryang concern ng mga lider-estudyante ang mga estudyante na kanyang pinaglilingkuran, ang kanyang mga constituents kaya nararapat lamang na isauna ang pag-gagap sa kung anuman ang kagustuhan o ang boses ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan upang mapaglingkuran ng mas mabuti at maibigay ang nararapat para sa kanila. At sa tingin ko, ang usapin pa rin ng Large Lecture Class Policy ang nararapat bigyan ng isang masusing student consultation sapagkat dito ay naapektuhan ang kalidad ng edukasyon. Mariin itong tinututulan ng mga estudyante at

nararapat lamang na i-forward natin bilang student leaders ‘yung kanilang concern upang ito ay pigilan sapagkat marami sa kanila ang may ayaw nito at sa palagay ko ay hindi naging masusi talaga at hindi nagkaroon ng sapat na

konsultasyon sa hanay ng mga estudyante pati sa guro.

USC CHAIRPERSONErnest Francis “Ernest” CalayagBS Industrial Engineering ‘06, 21 years old

USC VICE CHAIRPERSONMary Angelique “GEL” Rivera

BS Biology ‘07

Naniniwala ako na ‘yung usapin ng korapsyon ay it transcends just moral issues in the society but also it affects the financial status or finances of the government. I believe that next to the ... next sa budget na hindi napapakinabangan, next to debt servicing, ‘yung napupunta sa korapsyon ay isang malaking bulto

ng pera na kung saan imbis na mapakinabangan ng taong bayan ay napupunta na lang sa bulsa ng iilan. Sa pagbuo ni ... President Noynoy ng truth commission, pinilit nya o ninanais niya na ma-establish na hindi

niya ito-tolerate ang corruption. ... Hindi ko alam kung ito’y isang bagay na paninindigan o isang bagay na front lang but what (sic) important is that we address the issue of corruption and this truth commission is one of

the venues to do such. And once we address corruption, little by little, we can bring back ‘yung tamang budget sa mga institutions, sa mga offices sa gobyerno at lalo’t higit sa UP na kung saan ito’y lubos na kinakailangan.

’Yung tungkol sa dormitories, ang nakakalungkot kasi na status regarding dorms is that when the dorm were started to be founded in the university, ... wala talagang budget for dormitories... That was the plan before. However, through time, nagkaroon ng allocation for dormitories and yes, while it is true that there’s a need to improve the dormitories, we don’t see it necessary that for us to increase the fees, I mean, habang nagbibigay ka ng isang UP education, you also have to consider kung saan mo ilalagay ‘yung mga estudyante. And ang pagtataas ng fees sa dormitories ay maaari mong i-ugnay na rin sa pagpapahina ng accessibility dito sa UP lalo na yung mga taga malalayong probinsya pa. Well back to my earlier point, it’s true there’s a need to improve. However, we see that there’s a better option other than increasing the dorm fees. We would want to suggest that UP strengthen its income generating alongside its continuous call for higher state subsidy. ‘Yun nga lang ‘yung naging kulang na naging tanong din naman natin, kung ano ‘yung naging tindig ng mga chancellors, ng mga dean patungkol dito ...If back then, President-elect Alfredo Pascual has already stood for higher state subsidy, then all the more now that he’s the UP president. And expect that the council ... must be one in this call for higher state subsidy which will, in effect, help the dormitories’ improvement and there’ll be no more need to increase the dormitory fees.

Kung placard ako, sa tingin ko isa akong itim na placard dahil moreno ako, pero ‘yung nakalagay ay ‘Fight for an Accessible UP Education’. Basically, this is my personal call, and this is the call of the party, of MOVE UP, that we ensure that education must be accessible, not only through the fees but as well as with the services that the university offers. Ang hirap, hindi mo masasabing accessible ang edukasyon kung nagkakasakit ka at walang binibigay sa’yong benepisyong medikal ang unibersidad. Ang hirap sabihing accessible ang edukasyon kung wala ka namang matirhan sa UP. And so, this is my personal devotion, my personal call that we fight, as students, we fight for an accessible UP Education.

USC COUNCILOR Joseph “GELO” GutierrezConnected siya kasi ang BOP, based on economics, ang BOP ay ‘yung partnership, which PPP, partnership ng public at private in order to build a business or an institution... In the long run, parang sa government siya ipapa-transfer ... So, as a public institution, ang UP ay isa sa mga posibleng apply-an ng ganyang rules or parang batas. Pero sa tingin po natin, ang BOP transfers po at private-public partnership is (sic) beneficial only for the unused assets ng UP so kung meron po tayong unused assets, why not let rent (sic) di ba? Pero as long as the quality of the education is concerned, as long as the prize of tuition fee, as long as it’s a public or private

ownership, as well as that’s concerned, hindi po tayo pabor na i-apply ‘yung private mechanism sa UP, because, ang UP po ay Iskolar para sa Bayan which

indicates na ito ay fully pledged para sa mga Pilipino at para sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas.

USC COUNCILORGamaliel “GAMA” Javier III

BS Electrical Engineering ‘09, 18 years oldAng UP ay ... matuturing natin na isang public area, kung about sa paggamit naman sa kanya ay sa

tingin ko kung sa paglipat na ‘yun ay mas mapapa-igting ang… para magkaroon ng pondo o mas mapapapabuti ang edukasyon ng mga UP students ay pabor tayo, pero kung ang paggagamitan

lang naman po ay iba ay tutol po tayo sa ganun. Saka sana po ay mas magamit sa mas magandang paraan ang… sa paglipat ng private and public... Tayo po sa MOVE UP ay, ang una po nating pina-

prioritize ay ang mga estudyante at kung paano natin papalakasin ang boses ng mga estudyante at para, kung ito ay isang paraan na mapalakas ang panig ng mga estudyante mas pwede nating tingnan at mabuting busisiin ang paglipat na ito at kung sakaling makakabuti ay pwede tayong tumulong sa pag-iimplement nito.

USC COUNCILORAnna Mae “ANNA MAE” Lamentillo

BS Development Communication ‘07Number one ... this is against the principles or core values of improving the value of education. If we want to move forward the principles of education, then i think, hindi dapat natin siya i-fix at hindi natin dapat i-privatize ‘yung education per se because ... it’s time, ... that we actually socialize the whole process of tuition fees. Ibig sabihin, we’re going to tap ‘yung idea of social responsibility which would entail the concept na pagbayarin natin kung sino ‘yung mga may-kaya at ‘yung mga hindi, hayaan nating sagutin sila ng kapwa nila Iskolar ng Bayan. In this way, magkakaro’n tayo ng two-edge proposal. Una, magkakaroon ng better facilities ang university, while pangalawa, nagkakaroon ng idea na ang kapwa Iskolar ng Bayan ay tinutulungan niya ‘yung may kulang... Tapos pangatlo, in this kind of system, we’re going to forward another value, something innately in UP... This time, we want to socialize the whole process to change ... that prevailing value. Ibig sabihin, it’s time UP actually becomes concerned dun sa ginagalawan niya. We don’t want UP to be individualistic kasi ... parang sayang lahat ng talento kung magiging individual lang siya o malo-locate lang siya sa iisang tao so we want to widen the horizon. So pangalawa, we’re no to privatization ... What we can do, though, is we can commercialize yung mga idle lands ng university. We’re not

commercializing education per se pero we’re commercializing its idle lands so that... magkakaroon ng increase in revenues and at least magkakaroon ng better facilities. At this point, dahil tataas ‘yung

budget ng university then we could provide good education for these people ...

USC COUNCILORMark Anthony “MARK” Manalo

BS Civil Engineering ‘09, 18 years oldManagement and non-academic services such as health, food, and maintenance are factors that can affect the quality of education the university is giving. If we privatize the fees ... the fees involving these

services, tataas ‘yung kailangang bayaran ng mga estudyante. Pero ... if we fix the tuition fees, saan kukunin ‘yung fund na pang-privatize for these fees? Sa pang-privatize sa non-academic fees? . . .

So if we privatize the management and non-academic fees, the academic services of the university will be sacrificed. Students will be directly affected by sacrificing these academic services. Therefore, if we fix the tuition fees and privatize management and non-academic fees, the academic services given to the students will be sacrificed.

USC COUNCILORPaul Christian “POTCHI” Marasigan

BS Mathematics ‘05, 20 years oldSa palagay ko, okay lang magkaroon ng partnership ang UP sa iba pang mga private organizations. Siguro kung ‘yung mga ginagamit, yung mga ilang mga bagay na ginagamit ng UP o kagamitan na pagmamay-ari ng UP ay ipapahiram sa mga private establishments na ito

ay okay lang kung ang mga ipapahiram ay hindi ginagamit kasi masasayang lang. Pero kung dun sa proseso nung pagpapahiram na ‘yun ay nacocompromise ‘yung

quality ng education, ‘yung welfare ng mga estudyante, nararapat lamang siguro na tututulan natin ito at gagawan natin ng hakbang.

USC COUNCILORMarc Ferdinand “Mac” Polancos

BS Agriculture ‘08, 19 years oldIdeally speaking, these two provisions are related in a way of helping our country and especially our

students. It (sic) helps our students because for the first provision I think, fixed tuition fees and other matriculations is primarily the socialization of tuition fees, meaning the students that are capable of

paying a high amount of money will pay that kind of money and the less privileged will pay what they can give and by doing that, ... this provision ... helps the students no matter what class they are from. ...The other

provision is, if I understand it right, is the utilization of idle assets of the university. This provision helps the country ...by making the university, in some way, capable of making its own money so that it can sustain itself even with ... the low subsidy of the government. It can help the country... if the ... allocated budget of the government... for the university maybe lessened, because, if ever, the university is able to utilize its idle assets and use it as a means or as a source of income. The money ... that will be given by the government can be used to other sectors that ...needs the most resources at (sic) as of the moment.

USC COUNCILOR Juan Miguel Paolo “JMP” TumpalanSa pagkakaayos ng mga fees nakukuha o nagkakaroon ng pondo para mapaayos at mapaganda ang mga pasilidad, kagamitan, and other benefits pero dapat lang na maging accessible siya para sa lahat. Sa pagpa-privatize naman, pinapakita lang na kailangang ma-further enhance ang quality education sa bansa dahil ito ang susi patungo sa pag-unlad ng isang bayan.

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE

Narciso “TRES” Panganiban IIIShifted from BS Economics to

BA Communication Arts ‘08, 19 years oldUSC COUNCILOR

Magkaugnay yung dalawang seksiyon sapagkat ‘yung pong mga gastusin sa administration, management, at iba pang serbisyo tulad ng food, health, building maintenance at iba pang pinagkakagastusan sa kolehiyo ay nakabatay o nakasalalay sa mga sinisingil sa ating mga mag-aaral dahil nakafix yung tuition fee, matriculation fee, grad fee, laboratory fee na sinisingil sa ating mga mag-aaral ng unibersidad.

USC COUNCILORGabrielle Morong “GAB” de Juras

BS Agricultural Economics ‘08, 19 years oldI think ‘yung relationship nilang dalawa, focuses on improving the facilities and the features of the institution but

basically, it still banks on the fact na we provide the accessible education ... and while maintaining the quality. Since the first provision states na we fix the tuition fees and the matriculation, and those stuff, so ‘yun ‘yung nagfo-focus

dun sa pag-papaabot ... para maging accessible ... sa mga students. Tapos ‘yung pangalawa naman ... focuses dun sa facilities, so, kung pagsasamahin silang dalawa, it’s (sic) basically improving the features of the university without, while preventing commercialization and without sacrificing the quality. Basically, I think, the provisions actually is (sic) … like giving the institution the best of both worlds. Kasi ‘yung quality ng education ay ... hindi siya maaapektuhan nung pagpa-privatize kasi ... ‘yung sa matriculation ay hindi naman nila magagalaw kasi ang most na naaapektuhan nila ay ‘yung mga non-academic services. So, as a whole, para siyang nagde-dwell dun sa social equity and social justice kung saan pera, I mean, ... ‘yung mga investors ... and all dun sa privatization ‘yun ‘yung gini-give in nila, pero ... kumbaga, nadi-distribute siya na kahit kasi ‘yung mga ... less-fortunate, ... kailangan nila ... ‘yung hindi nila masyadong ma-afford ‘yung higher tuition fees makakapag-access pa rin sila dun sa facilities through these provisions... ‘Yung provisions ay connected sila kasi it (sic) provides improving the features of the institution without commercializing the education and sacrificing its quality.

USC Chairperson Binuo ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III ang Truth Commission sa pamamagitan ng Executive Order No. 2 upang diumano mabigyang linaw at kaukulang aksyon ang katiwalian at korupsyon sa lahat ng lebel ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno kabilang na ang mga pribadong indibidwal simula noong Rehimeng Arroyo magpahanggang ngayon.Paano ito nakaaapekto sa pag-unlad ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas bilang pamantasan ng Bayan?

Naglabas ang University Housing Office ng UPLB ng isang panukala upang taasan ang bayad sa mga dormitoryo, diumano para sa pagpapanatili at pagsasa-ayos ng mga Residence Hall sa lower at upper campus. Paano mo ito maiuugnay sa P 290M kaltas sa badyet ng mga pampublikong paaralan ngayong taon?

Kung ikaw ay isang 15” by 25” na plakard, ano ang nakasulat sa iyo?

IntervIew QuestIons for the CandIdates:

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USC Vice Chairperson Ipinatupad ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III ang Conditional Cash Transfer o ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Sa pamamagitan nito, ang bawat pamilyang tinaguriang “poorest of the poor” ay makatatanggap ng P 1, 400 kada buwan sa loob ng limang taon. Kaugnay ng pagpapatupad nito, umutang ang gobyerno ng $ 400 M mula sa Asian Development Bank at $ 200 M mula sa World Bank. Paano mo ito maiuugnay sa mababang rate of employment sa bansa?

Gaano kahalaga ang “student consultation” para sa iyo? Rate: 1-10 (10 ang pinakamataas). Magbigay ng mga halimbawa ng sitwasyon na sa tingin mo nangangailangan ng student consultation.

Councilor Isinasaad sa Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997 Section 4: (d) fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as but not limited matriculation fees, graduation fees and laboratory fees, as their respective boards may deem proper to impose after due consultations with the involved sectors (w) privatize, where most advantageous to the institution, management and non-academic services such as health, food, building or grounds or property maintenance and similar such other objectives.Paano nagkaka-ugnay ang dalawang seksyon sa nasabing polisiya?

Sa ilalim ng administrasyong Noynoy Aquino inilipat ang Build Operate Transfer program sa National Environment Development Authority upang diumano mas mapabilis ang pagpapatupad ng mga proyekto sa Public-private partnership (PPP). Paano ito nakakaapekto sa UP bilang pamantasan ng bayan?

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This state of affairs inside the electoral board opens a possibility of setback. Serious consequences might still await the studentry unless the student representatives and other members of CEB unite to ensure an election that will produce credible and transparent results.

We will face an entirely new process of voting this year but our idea about it until now seems minimal. Thus, we cannot lose vigilance especially when what is left to us is sheer misgiving. [P]

(casting vigilance... from p.04)

USC COUNCILORSeraphim “PHIM” Moran

USC COUNCILORCarla “CARLA” Lontoc