SCs seal CD-AFP MOA full disclosure; student services and spaces remain far-off
by Ashley May Selen
To secure protection against militarization, essential student services and campus spaces, as well as recognition of gender identities, University of the Philippines Manila student councils (UPM SCs) convened with UP admin officials and faculty in an all-student Town Hall Meeting, Aug. 2.
Full disclosure of CD-AFP agreement
Amid fear of unwarranted military intervention, SCs condemned the lack of transparency and proper consultation in the renewal of the agreement between the College of Dentistry (CD) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The agreement mandates the college to train dental military officers for three years.
In defense, CD Dean Michelle Segarra stressed that the agreement underwent scrupulous legal screening and no “untoward incident” occurred in its 14 years of implementation.
“It is our mandate to teach everyone. We do not discriminate for or against anyone, that is why we entered the agreement with the AFP,” Segarra said.
SCs eventually obtained the admin’s commitment to publicize the memorandum after being denied several times.
Harassment and a looming Mandatory ROTC bill
Persistence for transparency was driven by numerous incidents of police intervention in student mobilizations, particularly by the 85th Infantry Battalion’s profiling and harassment of Development Studies students undergoing practicum in Quezon province.
To protect students, the UP police will be instructed to coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to not intervene in student mobilizations. The admin pledged to conduct stringent screening of practicum areas for maximum safety.
With the impending National Citizens Service Training Program (NCSTP) bill, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan assured students that all voices of stakeholders will be heard in consultations.
“Continue your lobby [and] coordination with the other councils. Continue being heard,” Chancellor Carmencita Padilla encouraged students to carry on with their work.
UP admin’s legal concerns on gender identities
Despite the recent triumph of the University Student Council (USC) for gender expression, the admin emphasized that the use of preferred attire and lived names can only be permitted in ‘ceremonial’ events such as College Recognitions, but not in a legal event like the University Graduation.
Chancellor Padilla maintained that use of legal names in University Graduation provides legal protection for students.
Center for Women and Gender Studies Chair Dr. Leilani Apostol-Nicodemus prides that the university is gradually integrating Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) policies in its gender code while promoting consultations with students.
Student services and #WeNeedSpace campaign
Meanwhile, dormitory concerns and wage increase for student assistants and follow-ups on the master development plan reverberated as students amplified their demand for more academic spaces.
Dorm residents requested for food concessionaires that offer low cost and healthy alternatives. In response, the admin vowed to install two food trucks inside the campus.
Amid rising cost of living, a said salary increase for student assistants will only be implemented across the UP system next year.
Physical spaces in the campus remain largely short of funding. The renovation of College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) alone needs an additional PHP 420 million for completion. CAS continues to cater to a heavy demand for General Education (GE) courses from all colleges. Relative to this, the admin urged CAS Dean Maria Constancia Carillo to facilitate the hiring of more lecturers and expand the capacity of GE courses from 20 up to 30–40 students.
The aforementioned plans are expected to be carried out by the next UPM Chancellor.
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