NEWS | TL;DR: What happened at the 51st GASC?
By Elaine Diaz
With its bi-annual General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC), the 54 Student Councils (SCs) across the University of the Philippines System (UP) gathered for the 51st Assembly from August 31 to September 1 via Zoom.
Unit reports from councils emphasized the struggles under the remote learning set-up, the effects of the unilateral abrogation of the UP-Department of Defense (UP-DND) Accord, and the aftermath of the state’s continuous red-tagging. Among other concerns, SCs from UP Manila, which is regarded as the Health Sciences Center of the Philippines, lamented the subsequent suspensions of limited face-to-face (f2f) classes for the white colleges due to the prolonged lockdowns.
Unit Reports
Eight University Student Councils (USCs) from the university’s constituent units (CUs) presented their respective end-of-term report. These councils were UP Baguio (UPB), UP Cebu (UPC), UP Manila (UPM), UPM School of Health Sciences — Palo (UPM-SHS Palo), UP Mindanao (UPMin), UP Visayas (UPV), UP Diliman (UPD), and UP Los Baños (UPLB).
With an emphasis on the struggles under the remote learning set-up, common among their grievances are the faulty implementation of the academic ease spearheaded by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), financial and health concerns, issues of poor internet connectivity, and frequent power interruptions. In addition, UPB and UPMin condemned the vague contents of the memorandum regarding the system-wide academic ease which resulted in non-compliance of professors.
Meanwhile, several USCs called out the lack of response from the administration regarding their continuous clamor for the safe resumption of f2f classes. Alongside this, UPV calls on the UP administration to provide dormitories for safe housing of students.
On the other hand, UPLB USC calls for academic postponement due to the unaltered situation of the students even after a year.
Aside from academic concerns, red-tagging and other political attacks are rampant concerns faced by studentry under the Duterte administration. The common form of attacks includes the illegal arrests and stealing of their placards despite conducting the mobilizations within their campuses.
With these problems at hand, the councils continue to conduct consultations, protests, educational discussions, and fundraising initiatives, along with organizing and strengthening their coalitions to protect the rights of students. The SCs also continue their campaigns on institutionalizing the UP-DND Accord and the abrogation of the Anti-Terror Law (ATL).
UPM Unit Report
The UPM USC and UPM SHS Palo SC discussed the challenges encountered during remote learning set-up, especially among the skill-intensive courses. They also criticized the prolonged suspension of the limited F2F classes for the white colleges since most courses in the unit are practical-based and skill-intensive.
In addition, UPM USC continues their long push for the removal of the Return Service Agreement. However, they now seek a system-wide campaign.
Both councils also called out the lack of recognition of student rights and democratic decision-making on the administration’s side. Recently a selection process was conducted to decide the new set of members who will lead the UPM USC and forward the students’ concerns.
Meanwhile, UPM SHS Palo SC seeks to re-establish the school’s publication, institutionalize a SC Student Loan Program to address the financial constraints of the student body, and establish an independent SHS Tarlac Student Council.
Students’ rights and welfare
In line with the Assembly’s official agenda, the body adopted a total of 20 resolutions tackling several issues across the fields of education, agriculture, business, environment, and social sectors. The student-leaders made sure that they used their voice in serving their constituents by adopting a total of seven resolutions concerning the education sector.
Resolution №2021–001, authored by UPD CAL SC, heeds the call to strengthen the use of the Filipino language during the pandemic and the abrogation of the CHED memorandum 20, s. 2013.
In response to the red-tagging and state-sponsored attacks experienced by the students, UPD CMCSC’s Resolution №2021–007 calls for an intensified campaign to defend the student publications from suppression by the current administration. While, the joint Resolution №2021–019 by the UPB USC, UPD CSWCDSC, UPLB CHE SC, UPLB CFNRSC, UPLB CEATSC, UPV CASSC, UPV SOTECH SC, UPV CFOSSC, UPV CMSC, and UPV TCSC seeks an intensified system-wide efforts against state fascism and calls for the establishment of UP campuses as a safe haven for critical thinking and dissent.
The UPD USC, UP EDUKSC, UP ESC, UPD CSSC, and UPD CSSPSC then authored Resolution №2021–013 as a response to the continuous clamor for a safe and gradual resumption of classes and academic easing.
Recognizing the need to address the mental health crisis in the university, UP CSSPSC’s Resolution №2021–014 calls for the UP Administration to institutionalize PsycServ along with the establishment of similar mental health initiatives across the UP systems.
With the rampant lack of recognition of students’ rights, the Resolution №2021–015 of the UPD CSSPSC and UPD LSG seeks the institutionalization of students’ rights in the university. Furthermore, Resolution №2021–018 by the UPD EDUKSC, UPMin USC, and UPMin SOMSC demands adequate funds for the education sector and an intensified campaign forwarding the emergency student aid and relief bill.
Environmental concerns
Shedding light on the intensified environmental crises due to the Duterte administration’s hostile programs, the body passed five resolutions related to it.
The UPD CSSC, UPD CSWCDSC, UPD ASC, and UPD AITSC’s Resolution №2021–002 call for the GASC’s intensified campaign for the preservation, maintenance, and protection of the UP Arboretum that the Duterte administration threatened. Meanwhile, UPC USC’s Resolution №2021–005 seeks to oppose and expose the adverse effects of the Build! Build! Build! program, especially in the UP premises.
Given that the Philippines was named the deadliest country for environmental defenders, UPLB CFNRSC’s Resolution №2021–011 seeks student councils’ strengthened calls and demands to secure environmental defenders in the country. Alongside this, amidst the continuous threat to the Rights of National Minorities, UPD CSSPSC, UPD EPPSC, UPD AITSC, UPLB CDCSC, UPMin CSMSC, UPMin CHSSSC’s Resolution №2021–017 challenges the GASC for an amplified and mobilized campaigns for the National Minorities’ rights to land, life, and self-determination.
On the other hand, Resolution №2021–012, authored by the UPLB CAFSSC, seeks an amplified call against feudalism from the GASC.
Aide to workers
As Filipino workers continue to suffer from the prolonged lockdowns brought about by the administration’s inadequate pandemic response, four resolutions focusing on businesses, transparency, and regularization were adopted.
Resolution №2021–003 of the UPD CHE SC seeks for the government to provide economic support and relief for families amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Resolution №2021–008, authored by UPD BAC, challenges the GASC to support local and sustainable businesses by advocating for entrepreneurship and innovations.
In terms of transparency, UPD BAC’s Resolution №2021–009 clamors for the campaign to urge the government to uphold financial transparency and accountability along with the protection of state auditors, and UPD STAT SC’s Resolution №2021–006 demands the Duterte Administration to release and provide accessible, accurate, and authentic information to the public.
Furthermore, UPD BAC also authored Resolution №2021–010 which demands the regularization of contractual workers within the UP system along with the provision of timely and just compensation.
Responsibilities of the state
As Duterte spends his final year at helm, the body passed three resolutions to ensure that the state will uphold human rights and provide basic social services for Filipinos.
The UPLB USC, UPLB CASSC, UPLB CEATSC’s Resolution №2021–004 challenges the GASC to condemn the attacks on democratic rights and intensify the campaign to defend Southern Tagalog.
Coming from the Health Sciences Center, UPM USC, UPM CAMPSC, UPM CASSC, UPM DSC, UPM MSC, UPM NSC, UPM UPPhaSC, UPCPHSC filed Resolution №2021–020 which demands for an inclusive, comprehensive, and responsive public health solution instead of an aggressive and militaristic approach as implemented by the Duterte administration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lastly, in anticipation of the upcoming 2022 National and Local Elections, UPLB USC, UPD NCPAGSC, and UPLB CASSC’s joint Resolution №2021–016 urge the GASC to launch an extensive campaign against the electoral bid of Duterte and his allies. Alongside is the promotion of critical youth participation in the elections.
List of the adopted resolutions:
