UP, Unite against the Budget Cut!

We will not be silent.

Hidden behind a touted net increase in the budget for state universities and colleges is possibly the largest budget cut under President Aquino's administration on the University of the Philippines. As the House of Representatives prepares to debate the 2014 general appropriations bill on the floor next week, the proposed item for UP is pegged at P8,098,325,000, or P1.43 billion less than the P9.53 billion allocated for this year.

The main budget component affected is capital outlay, which is used for the acquisition of fixed assets such as buildings and other facilities. This year, the executive has proposed to give UP zero capital outlay, even as the Board of Regents proposed P1.91 billion in additional funding requirements for the component out of its total proposed P17.1 billion for 2014.

The budget cut comes in the midst of the pork barrel scam, amounting to P10 billion lost to private pockets and a total of P25.2 billion for next year's Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF. Thus, there can be no excuse for austerity or cost-cutting from the executive. If the President insists on thrift in the cases of UP and other state universities, then why the willingness to spend more than three times UP's allocation on a discretionary, lump sum item as congressional pork? Why is it so difficult to spend on UP and other SUCs while it seems so easy to disburse pork funds to unchecked projects and bogus NGOs?

We cannot let this pass. While the aggregate budget for education and SUCs increased, UP must not be left behind. Indeed, our experience this year, more than any other year, only proves with greater certainty how crucial government subsidy is for the University. If only UP were fully funded by the State, the administration would not have been ridiculously stringent in enforcing its policies on payment and Kristel would have been saved from her ordeal.

In the coming weeks, the UP community must unite to protest against the P1.43 billion budget cut. We have done this in the past and have earned substantial victories for doing so. After a series of marches, demonstrations, and direct negotiations with CHED and members of Congress, we succeeded in securing an increase of almost P4 billion for this year's budget. 

We will sustain our victory. On September 18, Wednesday, we will march as one UP around Diliman's Academic Oval and troop to the House of Representatives to claim what is ours - our right to education. We will not be silent.


UP, Unite against the Budget Cut!

Ituloy ang napagtagumpayan - para sa UP, para sa Bayan!

All For Quality, Relevant and Accessible Education: An Education Budget Manifesto

An Education Budget Manifesto supported by

the University Student Council (USC)

and UP Diliman's three major political parties:

UP ALYANSA, KAISA UP, and STAND UP.

THE YOUTH SONA: Our Response to the "Report Kay Boss"

The State of the Nation Address is the annual address delivered by the President of the Philippines to the Congress of the Philippines. It is a tool for democracy, a lens by which we can subject the government to public scrutiny, and a venue for the youth to exercise our participation. This is the Youth SONA’s assessment of President Benigno Aquino’s 3rd State of the Nation address, entitled Report Kay Boss.

Our past is painted bleak. We rose from a period of martial law into a country whose level of corruption was comparable with the worst in the world. PNoy attempted to overhaul the government and steering it toward what he called ang daang matuwid or the straight path, and restore public trust in government. He substantiated his claim with an impressive report, listing victories including the abolition of the abuse of sirens (wang-wang), the investigation of anomalies such as the P1B for coffee in PAGCOR, and the removal of corrupt government officials from office. Among others, he highlighted the success of the Conditional Cash Transfer project, significant increases in the beneficiaries of PhilHealth, the mordernization of the AFP, the strengthening of the rice industry, and the positive credit rating that the Philippines has achieved in his term. Although marked with successes, the youth has assessed that the country and its leaders have a very long way to go before we can claim that we are truly on PNoy’s ‘daang matuwid’.

Land Distribution by 2014

The youth recognizes the importance and immediacy of land distribution under the CARPER law. We recognize the priority that government has placed on this project, but we find that the target of distribution by 2016 is unacceptable. We call for the distribution of land under CARPER by 2014.

Freedom of Information Bill

We celebrate the efforts of government to clean up its act. Our victory in impeaching former Chief Justice Renato Corona is a definite step in the right direction, but the youth demands a more long term solution in the form of the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill. The youth demands no less than true transaprency and accountability in government. Information should be readily accessible while utilizing new, innovative and efficient means of information dissemination such as updated government websites and written manuals.

RH Bill

The youth adamantly calls for the immediate passage of the RH bill. PNoy recognized the problem of a high maternal mortality rate, but failed to mention the RH bill at all. The youth is steadfast in its stand that reproductive health is a right that the government must address. There is a need for accessible contraception, education on family planning methods, and gender sensitive education for the moral and intellectual growth of our nation’s children.

Anti Discrimination Bill

There is no place in a free and democratic country for discrimination, and the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill is a key to the protection of our rights, but there was no word from PNoy addressing this issue. The youth supports an act prohibiting discrimination, profiling, violence and all forms of intolerance against persons based on race, ethnicity, language, religion, belief, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or other status.

Security of Tenure Bill

The youth will not tolerate injustice against our nation’s makers of wealth, the Filipino workforce, and demands the passage of the Security of Tenure Bill. The youth believes that contractualization is a form of precarious work and subjects workers to the whims of corporate greed. We recognize improvements in the labor sector such as the decrease of the unemployment rate from 8%% at the start of PNoy’s term to 6.9% as of April this year, as well as the number of specialists that TESDA trained and employed. What the youth cannot accept is that PNoy expressly defends the current system of contractualization by highlighting the BPO sector as a primary source of employment and and revenue, despite the injustice we know to be rampant when it comes to process outsourcing as was seen by the situation in Philippine Airlines. PNoy relies on job creation to address the needs of the workforce, but fails to appreciate that having a job does not mean having a decent living.

Education

Education is a right, and one of those that are closest to the hearts and minds of the youth. PNoy proudly reported that by the end of the year, we will have completely addressed the problem of 2.5M backlog in chairs and 61.7M in textbooks to the achievement of a one-is-to-one ratio of student to textbook. We also commend the 43.61% increase in the budget for State Universities and Colleges and the increases in the DepEd budget which makes PNoy’s attack on the education problem holistic. Although we see that reforms in education are going in the right direction, our call is clear. UNESCO prescribed a universal standard of education budget allocation to 6% of the Gross National Product, and the youth will not rest until this standard is attained. Furthermore, the reform of the education sector must not rely solely on budget increases and facilities but also the reforms in the quality of instruction which must be addressed with proper training and, and the relevance of curricula which must cater to the country’s long term needs.

Environmental Justice

The youth calls for an administration that prioritizes environmental protection and responsible utilization of resources. Although PNoy failed to address one of the country’s biggest environmental problems, illegal logging, we recognize PNoy’s call for the passage of the Minerals Management Act.

Universal Health

The youth calls for an administration that prioritizes Universal Healthcare especially for women and children. We recognize the improvements during PNoy’s term, namely the 23.31M Filipinos that benefit from PhilHealth, of which 5.2M are the poorest of the poor and need not pay for any service. The youth also calls for better compensation for our country’s healthcare workers.

Although the youth recognizes that under President Noynoy’s leadership, the country has taken a turn for the better, we can see that the number of important issues that he did not tackle shows that we still have a long way to go. What PNoy did want to stress in his address though, was that his SONA was the SONA of the people, and that the triumphs and failures that our country may claim are not exclusively the result of the government, but the cooperation between an administration and its constituents. While participation requires the scrutiny of the government and its actions, it also demands the hard work and responsible citizenship of the people. The government must be held accountable, but it is the youth that is the hope of the nation.

ISKOLAR PARA SA BAYAN, KASAMA KA SA PAGKAMIT NG ATING 8 POINT AGENDA PARA SA TAONG ITO! 

ISKOLAR PARA SA BAYAN, KASAMA KA SA ALYANSA.

Youth SONA 2012 Primer

Invitation to the National Day of Action for Education Reform

The Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP), the Coalition for Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW Coalition), and the Budget Watch Alliance invite you to the National Day of Action for Education Reform at the National Computer Center this June 4, 8:30 AM. 

We enjoin everyone to wear white and take part in the activities. For NCR contingencies, contact UP ALYANSA at 09154367744.

Wear white and see you all tomorrow!

UP ALYANSA featured in the Philippine Daiily Inquirer!

UP ALYANSA's statement on the proposed 2012 UP and education budget gets published in today's edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer!

INCREASE THE UP BUDGET, INVEST IN EDUCATION.
Iskolar para sa Bayan, kasama ka sa pagkamit ng quality, relevant, at accessible education.

An Appeal to Congressmen (Budget Dialogue at the House of Representatives, 07 September 2011)

by Juan Carlo Tejano
Chairperson, UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council (CSSPSC)
Member, UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (ALYANSA)
Spokesperson, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP)

Delivered on September 7, 2011
Speaker Prospero Nograles Hall, House of Representatives


* * *
Kailangan pong taasan ang budget ng SUCs at ng edukasyon sa bansa – klaro po ito para sa lahat sa atin dito. Pero ang tanong ko ay: ano ang benchmark, at ano po ba ang goal na gusto nating ma-attain para sa budget ng ating mga unibersidad?

Noong 1996, nagkaroon ng Delors benchmark, isang international standard ng education budget for different countries. At nakasaad rito na para maging internationally-competitive ang isang bansa ay kailangang maglaan ng 6% ng Gross National Product ang isang gobyerno para sa edukasyon.

Sa kasalukuyan, 2.5% lang ang allocated by the government sa ating edukasyon. Sa katunayan, talo pa tayo ng iba’t-ibang mga bansa, na mas mababa pa nga ang ranking ng percent ng GNP natin. Sa totoo lang, di ko po alam ang bansang Guyana, na mas mataas pa ang percentage na binibigay nila para sa kanilang edukasyon.

Nakakalungkot itong isipin, dahil ito ang trend na makikita natin for our history after the Marcos era. Mula noong na-set ang benchmark noong 1996, ang pinakamataas nang percentage na allocated for education ay 3.8%. Napakababa po nito mula sa 6% international standard.

Ito ang panawagan ng SCAP o Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, along with the different student councils in UP, and UP ALYANSA and Buklod CSSP – Na kailangang taasan ang percentage na binibigay ng gobyerno for education. Kailangan itong taasan para humabol sa international standard na 6%.

Bukod pa rito, at nasabi na rin ito kanina ng mga kasama naming estudyante, parating sinasabi na maramot ang SUCs kapag nananawagan ito ng mas mataas na budget.

Ayaw kong paniwalaan ito, dahil kailangang lahat ng antas ng edukasyon ay binibigyang-halaga. Nakikita natin ang commitment ng gobyerno, at pinapasalamatan natin ang gobyerno para sa pinapakita nitong commitment sa elementary at secondary education. Pero kailangan ding bigyan ng tamang prayoridad ang tertiary education sa ating bansa.

Sa kasalukuyan, meron lang 110 SUCs all over the country. Compare this to 1,573 Private Higher Educational Institutions. Clearly, itong kakaunting amount ng SUCs sa ating bansa ay nangangailangan ng pondo at suporta.

At ang SUCs na ito, ito lang ang pag-asa para sa napakaraming Pilipinong mag-aaral na nagtapos ng high school para tumuloy sa kanilang college education. Kapag hindi natin popondohan ang SUCs ay parang sinabi na natin sa kabataang Pilipino na huwag niyo nang ipagpatuloy ang inyong pag-aaral. Dahil klaro para sa ating lahat na napakaraming mahirap sa ating bansa at kailangan nila ng SUCs para makapag-aral.

Bukod pa rito, bilang mula na rin sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at sigurado naman ako na marami sa ating mga mambabatas dito ngayon ay nanggaling din sa aking unibersidad, kapag pumunta kayo ng UP ay hindi niyo na kailangan ng data. Basta pumunta lang kayo ng UP, makikita ninyo kung gaano ka-masalimuot ang sitwasyon ng unibersidad.

Makikita ninyo ang Palma Hall, isang historical site ng Martial Law noong 1970s-1980s, historical po talaga siya – wala pong nagbago. Sa katunayan, parang historical artifacts na ang mga kagamitan namin sa Palma Hall.

Nakita rin natin na kakasunog lang ng Chemistry Pavilion sa Palma Hall noong nakaraang taon, at isa itong senyales na talagang kailangan ng mas mataas na budget para sa unibersidad.

Ayaw rin natin na umaasa ang unibersidad sa mga estudyante para pondohan ang mismong “state” university. Kaya nga nagkaroon ng UP, dahil gusto nating pag-aralin ang mga mahihirap. Bakit natin aasahan ang mga estudyante na sila mismo ang magpopondo sa ating unibersidad?

Finally, mula sa College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, sinabi ng Presidente na ang bibigyan ng halaga ngayong taon ayon sa Proposed Budget highlights ay business process outsourcing, tourism, agriculture and fisheries, at infrastructure development.

Nakakalungkot ito dahil patuloy na walang binibigay na halaga para sa agham panlipunan at pilosopiya sa ating bansa. Klaro na kailangan natin ng economics, engineering at science para sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa, pero kailangan din natin ng agham panlipunan at pilosopiya para maisaayos ang pag-unlad natin bilang bayan.

Sa katunayan, kapag magfo-focus lang tayo sa economic development, hindi uunlad nang matino ang ating bayan. From Philosophy itself, kunwari, Philosophy ang nagbigay ng biomedical ethics sa bansa – research ethics on biomedicine. Paano natin maisasaayos ang health dito sa bansa kung wala naman tayong pagbibigay-halaga sa etika?

Tatapusin ko ang pagsasalita ko sa isang panawagan, lalo na sa mga taga-UP na mambabatas ngayon – na sana po talaga ay ipaglaban natin ang budget para sa UP. Sana ay ipaglaban natin ang budget para sa state universities and colleges, at ang budget para sa edukasyon.

Maraming salamat po.

BUDGET WATCH UPDATE: ALYANSA urges Congress to increase UP budget, invest in education

UP ALYANSA joins the UP administration and other state universities and colleges (SUCs) in a public dialogue at the House of Representatives last September 7, 2011, the same day the proposed budget of CHED and SUCs for 2012 was deliberated by the House plenary.

Organized by the Office of San Juan City Representative JV Ejercito, the dialogue aims to engage members of the House of Representatives regarding the government’s lack of support for tertiary education, particularly the decrease in the budget of many SUCs for 2012.

The UP Diliman delegation is composed of UP President Alfredo Pascual, UP Diliman Chancellor Caesar Saloma, UP Student Regent Krissy Conti, USC Councilor Heart Diño, SLIS Representative Orly Putong, the CSSP Student Council (represented by Chairperson JC Tejano), and UP ALYANSA (represented by Chairperson Tin Borja). ALYANSA Vice Chairperson for Education, Research and Training Aides Baccay, UP Organization of Human Rights Advocates (OHRA) President Diega Villanueva, and former USC Councilor Jeff Crisostomo also attended the said dialogue.

Also present in the public dialogue were House Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chairman and UP Board of Regents member Juan Edgardo Angara, Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Patricia Licuanan, and Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) President Ricardo Rotoras.

In his appeal, CSSPSC Chairperson Tejano urged the members of Congress to increase the budget of the national university and invest in education by fulfilling the international standard of at least 6% of the country’s Gross National Product (GNP) to the education sector.

“[Ang SUCs] lang ang pag-asa ng napakaraming Pilipinong mag-aaral na nagtapos ng high school para tumuloy sa kanilang college education. Kapag hindi natin popondohan ang SUCs, parang sinabi na natin sa kabataang Pilipino na huwag niyo nang ipagpatuloy ang inyong pag-aaral,” Tejano said.

The congressmen, on their part, expressed their commitment to push not only for the restoration but also for the increase in the budget of SUCs.

In his Facebook status post, Cong. Ejercito said, “Just finished the dialogue between congressmen and the heads of the state universities and colleges. The reps were in unison in pushing not only for the restoration of the budget of the SUCs, but to increase their budget.”


Kasama ang mga kinatawan sa Kongreso, patuloy ang panawagan ng mga Iskolar para sa Bayan… INCREASE THE UP BUDGET, INVEST IN EDUCATION.

BUDGET WATCH UPDATE: Members of Congress tweet @upalyansa

UP ALYANSA has been receiving tweets from members of Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) since the Iskolars para sa Bayan intensified its "Increase the UP Budget, Invest in Education" campaign. The following are their tweets on our Twitter account, @upalyansa.


On UP ALYANSA's Position Paper on the Proposed 2012 UP and Education Budgets (LINK: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150345476665775)

Sen. Pia Cayetano (@piacayetano):

Agree, u have my support always. RT @upalyansa: @piacayetanoINCREASE the UP Budget. INVEST in Education.http://upalyansa.blogspot.com/2011/08/up-alyansas-position-paper-on-proposed.html

Sen. Koko Pimentel (@TeamSenKoko):

Senator @KokoPimentel and #TeamKoko is on your side@upalyansa. Education is the best equalizer and key out of poverty.

San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito (@jvejercito):

@upalyansa This is where i disagree with the Aquino Administration, they choose 2 give priority 2 the CCT dole-outs than invest in education
@upalyansa beem fighting for the increase in budget of SUC's since last year, will fight for it again in this year's budget hearings!

Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay (@mitosmagsaysay):

@upalyansa I agree with you 100%

Alliance of Volunteer Educators Partylist Rep. Amang Rodriguez (@arm7878):

@upalyansa Totally in support of ur advocacy. But I'm only 1 voice. Help me by touching base w/ ur other representatives & senators.

On UP ALYANSA's participation in the public dialogue with Congressmen, held last September 7, 2011 at the House of Representatives

San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito (@jvejercito):

@upalyansa @jeffcrisostomo @jctejano Salamat din sa pagdalo, malaking bagay ito upang maintindihan ng aking mga kasama and estado ng SUCS.
@upalyansa It is my belief that the human resource is our most precious resource, therefore education should be given highest priority.

UP ALYANSA’s Position Paper on the Proposed 2012 UP and Education Budget

UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA) is a duly-recognized leadership and service formation in the University of the Philippines – Diliman. Composed of students and student organizations in the University, we have been vigorously pursuing progressive social change in accordance to our four pillars, namely progressive multiperspective activism, academic excellence, student empowerment, and social justice and social progress.

Education, for UP ALYANSA, is a human right and a tool in the attainment of academic excellence, social justice and social progress. Through the acquisition of knowledge and skills from the four walls of our classrooms, our citizens achieve not only their personal development – be it intellectual, physical, emotional and social – but also civic and political consciousness. Since it gives empowerment especially to the marginalized, oppressed and powerless, education thus becomes an essential service that the State must provide.

The 2012 National Expenditure Program submitted by the Department of Budget and Management to the House of Representatives on 26 July 2011 proposes an increase in the budget of the whole education sector, from P218.9-billion for 2011 to P241.1-billion for 2012. Among the items in the education pie, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) receive a hike in their earmark compared to last year, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) suffer a reduction in its budget.

While the formation recognizes the marked increase in the allocation for elementary and secondary education, UP ALYANSA believes that prioritization of education should never discriminate tertiary education. This belief is grounded on our Constitution, which mandates the State to “protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education AT ALL LEVELS” (1987 Constitution: Art. XIV, Sec. 1; capitalization added).

In the case of the University of the Philippines, the budget that is allotted to the country’s national university reflects the government’s policy towards tertiary education. From the P17.07-billionproposal of the University administration, the government via the DBM only approved P5.54-billion,or a measly 34%, for 2012. Compared to this year’s allocation, UP’s budget decreases by P208.2-million, or 3.6%, for 2012. This is not the first time that the University is given an insufficient budget. For the past five years, UP received a high of P7.1-billlion (in celebration of its centennial anniversary), to a low of P4.8-billion.

We, UP students, have a litany of reasons to complain about this decline in our budget: our classrooms are in an old and decrepit condition; our laboratories are deteriorating and ill-supplied; our libraries still lack subscriptions in online journals and scholarly publications; our researches and field schools are underfunded; our instructors and staff are atrociously underpaid; our limited student housing are already creaking and fire-/earthquake-prone; our vast campus is becoming difficult to maintain and secure; and the list goes on.

You, our duly-elected leaders, do not have any reason to shrug off our dilemmas. Section 22 (d) of the 2008 UP Charter explicitly stipulates that the revenues generated from the utilization of vast tracks of idle lands in the University “shall not be meant to replace, in part or in whole, the annual appropriations provided by the national government to the national university.”

As we face again an impending decrease in our budget allocation for 2012, UP ALYANSA reiterates its call for a higher budget for the Philippines’ national university. We implore the members of the House of Representatives to assist UP in fulfilling its most important functions, namely committing itself towards national development (2008 UP Charter: Sec. 7; the Charter even made mention that the Philippine Congress “may request the national university to conduct research or provide advice on any matter involving public policy”), and serving the Filipino nation and humanity (ibid.: Sec. 8).

To realize its aim to be the leading academic, graduate, and research university in this side of the world (2008 UP Charter: Sec. 3), we call upon our legislators to retain the P1.1-billion proposal of the UP administration for Capital Outlay (CA), in order to fund the following projects:
- UP Diliman Engineering Research and Development for Technology
- UP Diliman National Science Complex Buildings
- UP Manila Centennial Building and Sports and Wellness Center (Phase 1)
- UP Los Baños Analytical Laboratory
- UP Visayas - Cebu College Library Building Extension
- UP Open University Learning Centers in the regions
The government should not content itself with the recent rise of UP in international university rankings (e.g., Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, Webometrics Ranking of World Universities). With stiff competition especially from institutions of higher learning from the Asia-Pacific region, UP still has a long way to go to catch up with the best in the region.

In searching for new sources of funding for UP and the education sector at-large, we suggest that the House of Representatives must carefully scrutinize and reduce discretionary spending, rechannel debt-servicing allocation to education, and legislate measures that will increase the tax effort of the government.

Finally, we re-echo the call of our national partner, the Youth Against Debt (YAD) Coalition, in legislating a bill that will automatically appropriate at least 6% of the Gross National Product (GNP) to the whole education sector. The proposed 2012 education budget, amid the increase, only amounts to 2.5% of our 2010 GNP – less than half and a far cry from our ideal budget. The 6%-of-GNP standard, first proposed in 1996 by the International Commission of Education in the Twenty First Century (headed by Jacques Delors), is considered as the UNESCO international benchmark for education and is already accepted by over a hundred countries. In following this international standard, the basic, higher and technical education sectors are now assured of the priority it deserves from the State without causing ill and irreparable effects to the quality and accessibility of education our people receives. In addition, this standard is in sync with a clear Constitutional provision that “assigns the highest budgetary priority to education” (1987 Constitution: Art. XIV, Sec. 5).

As UP, CHED, DepEd and other agencies prepare its respective budget presentations to the House Committee on Appropriations, UP ALYANSA will continue to engage our lawmakers (in both chambers of Congress) and the Aquino administration in the call of every Iskolar Para Sa Bayan for a higher budgetary allocation for UP and the whole education sector.

We, in UP ALYANSA, believe in the transformative benefits of education for our country. We maintain that unless the government increases the budget of its national university and invests more on the education sector, we will find it nearly impossible to attain quality, relevant and accessible education, lift ourselves from poverty, and uplift the lives of our countrymen.


INCREASE THE UP BUDGET, INVEST IN EDUCATION.



REFERENCES:

1987 Philippine Constitution
2008 University of the Philippines Charter
2010 National Account, National Statistics Office
2011 General Appropriations Act
2012 National Expenditure Program

Freedom from Debt Coalition and Youth Against Debt Coalition (2008). “The Neglected Generation”.http://fdc.ph/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=59&&Itemid=89 (Retrieved: July 31, 2011).

Office of the Hon. Ma. Kristina Conti (2011). “Updates from the Student Regent: On the budget campaign”. http://www.facebook.com/notes/krissy-conti/updates-from-the-student-regent-on-the-budget-campaign/10150247703715069 (Accessed: July 31, 2011).

BUDGET WATCH UPDATE: ALYANSA’s budget campaign reaches the House of Representatives

August 3 (Wednesday): We gave out copies of our three-page position paper to 47 district and partylist representatives in the Lower House. Dialogues with some of these congressmen/women will commence very soon.

August 4 (Thursday): UP ALYANSA Vice Chairperson for Education and Research Aides Baccay and Buklod CSSP Circle of Individuals Rep. Migs Angeles witnessed the budget hearings for CHED and SUCs (including UP) at the Andaya Hall, House of Representatives.

That same day, we were also able to personally hand out UP ALYANSA's and Buklod CSSP's position papers to UP President Alfredo Pascual and UPD Chancellor Caesar Saloma. They both agreed to have a dialogue with us regarding the UP budget and other student issues.

Iskolar Para Sa Bayan, kasama ka sa BUDGET WATCH. MAKILAM at MAKIBAHAGI.


IN THE PHOTO: UP President Alfredo Pascual and CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan at the CHED and SUCs budget hearing, Andaya Hall, House of Representatives. (Photo credit: Aides Baccay)

2011 Youth Statement on the State of the Nation

(Given at Manila, July 22, 2011)


A year has passed since President Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivered his State of the Nation Address. His first year in office shed light on the tremendous corruption that was institutionalized in the government by the previous administration. We waited patiently as the President introduced reform measures to address corruption, poverty, health, and a host of other concerns that seemed to have been neglected and worsened by the previous administration. Government effort in addressing these concerns slowly but surely restored trust and hope in government.

It is no surprise that the youth today feel that we must speak up about our issues now that the mechanisms for addressing our concerns have been strengthened.

The State of the Nation for the Filipino Youth is one filled with both trepidation and hope. There is trepidation because the opposition to reform efforts is very strong. But we also know there is hope now that we can see crucial youth reform measures can be realized under this administration.

Security of Employment

Now is the time to raise the collective voice of the youth in fighting not only for jobs, but security of tenure in those jobs.

Contractualization is a major factor to the serious employment problem. The youth have nothing to gain from such an oppressive and failed job policy that has ensured that our workers have little protection from corporate greed. Current labor laws are inadequate in ensuring the rights of workers are protected by the pernicious effects of contractualization.

A study in 2000 by a leading international research NGO showed that the “combined share of casual, contractual and part-time workers in total enterprise-based employment” had increased from 14 to 15 percent in 1990-94 to 18.1 percent in 1995 and to 21.1 percent in 1997, which meant that for every five workers at least one was a non-regular worker.

Another local research has even claimed that between 1995 and 2005, contractual labor in the Philippines has “soared from 65 percent to as much as 78 percent of the country’s employed labor force.”

The youth is challenging the Aquino government to generate secure jobs for all, especially for the working youth, and for jobs wherein workers are justly remunerated and their rights are fully respected. We are also calling for the passage of the Security of Tenure bill, HB 4853, which has been lingering in Congress for more than a decade now. This legislation, if passed, will be the biggest response of the President Aquino government in addressing the working youth’s concerns

Education

In 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which recognized the universal right to education. We believe that education is a right that must remain accessible to all Filipinos regardless of race, religion, gender, and social class.

While the government has made attempts to solve this problem, it has yet to address the issue of educational accessibility. A K-12 system does not mean more poor youths will have access to education.

The solution is larger government investment in education. With the current administration spending only 2.44% of the GNP, less than the 6% international standard, it comes as no surprise that education in the country remains as dismal as ever.

Access, however, must go in tandem with quality. We believe that students learn more in academic environments that respect their rights. The Students Rights and Welfare (STRAW) bill will allow students to demand more from their teachers and administrators. It will also ensure that school administrations respect the autonomy of its students.

Healthcare and RH Bill

We believe that a comprehensive reproductive health policy is crucial to the welfare of the youth. Age-appropriate and gender sensitive sex education is integral to the intellectual and moral growth of young people.

It is imperative that RH information and services be made available and accessible to those who needed it most: young people, who are most prone to sexual illnesses and unwanted pregnancies.

We support the Reproductive Health Bill. It is a law that will allow the state to uphold women’s rights and the health of its citizens, regardless of which faith they subscribe to.

These three measures are the most urgent legislative actions that can address the needs of the Filipino youth today. We therefore urge President Aquino to fast track their passage.

We agree that the road to reform is a rough and rugged road. However, it is a road that we Filipino youth will wholeheartedly tread. The straight path, the “tuwid na daan” which our hero Jose Rizal walked was never easy. But we must remember that at the end of every road is the destination. For the likes of Rizal it was freedom from tyranny and ignorance. For the youth, it is the freedom from economic disempowerment, from deprivation of right to health, and the right to meaningful education.

There are five years left for our President to accomplish these and other reforms. They may seem insurmountable but with the youth backing a comprehensive reform agenda, we will succeed.


Signed:
MABUTING PILIPINO YOUTH MOVEMENT*

* UP ALYANSA is a convener of the Mabuting Pilipino Youth Movement

ALYANSA for better budget for UP, higher budget for SUCs

"Nawa'y marinig natin mula sa Kongresong ito ngayong darating na SONA na ginawang priority bill na ang awtomatikong paglalaan ng 6% ng GNP para sa edukasyon taon-taon. Kasama ninyo ang UP ALYANSA at ang mga Iskolar para sa Bayan sa adhikaing ito."

- Solidarity message ni Aides Baccay, UP ALYANSA Vice Chairperson for Education, Research, and Training, sa ginanap na mobilisasyon ng Youth Against Debt Coalition sa labas ng House of Representatives kaninang umaga.


Photo credit: Freedom from Debt Coalition (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a​.215546715143430.57988.126626354035467)

interAKSYON.com: "Youth group to lawmakers: Re-channel debt service to education budget" (http://www.interaksyon.com/article/4987/​youth-group-to-lawmakers-re-channel-debt​-service-to-education-budget)

Towards a Quality, Relevant, and Accessible Education

(This is a statement delivered at "Outrage 4: Reproving Illiteracy and the Underinvestment in Education," a benefit party of the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance Student Council.)


A prerequisite in the attainment of academic excellence, and social justice and progress is a well-functioning educational system. As the society’s greatest equalizer, education provides equal opportunities for all regardless of one’s race, gender, religion, ethno-linguistic origin and social status. And as a vehicle for nation-building, education inculcates critical and creative thinking, and imbibes nationalism and patriotism to young Filipinos. It is with these reasons that the State is constitutionally-mandated to provide quality, relevant, and accessible education to the youth of our nation.

Is this, however, the path we are traversing right now?

Last year, President Benigno S. Aquino III slashed the budget of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) for 2011 by 1.7% (or ₱800 million) from its budget for 2010, putting on hold the construction of new buildings and facilities and the purchase of new equipment. The Commission on Higher Education suffered a bigger cut at ₱1.7 billion, or 33.24% lower from 2010’s, putting the student and faculty scholarship programs of the Commission in jeopardy.

While ALYANSA has been actively working for the passage of the Students’ Rights and Welfare Bill in Congress that guarantees the delivery of adequate academic facilities and welfare services, the education sector’s measly budget will never be enough to build new classrooms, buy quality and error-free books, train competent teachers, and provide welfare services for all students.

This is not the path that we should be traversing as a nation.

Together with our national networks, ALYANSA has been pushing for a higher budget for the whole education sector. The Six Will Fix, a campaign by the Youth Against Debt Coalition or YAD (of which ALYANSA is a member), calls for the enactment of a law that will automatically appropriate budget for education equating to 6% of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Last September 27, 2010, ALYANSA joined YAD in a protest action against the decrease in the budget of SUCs and CHED outside the Batasan Pambansa, and lobbied with members of the House of Representatives. Our call garnered the support of some lawmakers, including Compostela Valley Rep. Maricar Zamora-Apsay who pledged her support to our cause through a formal communication. On November 25, 2010, members of ALYANSA participated in the Sectoral Regents-led strike against the cut in the 2011 UP budget, and lobbied inside the Senate of the Philippines.

In the years to come, ALYANSA will continue to encourage students to be informed and involved on the issue of the education budget through the BUDGET WATCH. Through engaging means such as forums, lobbying activities and mass actions, we will provide avenues where the students can exert influence on the government’s policy formulation – in reviewing relevant government policies and proposing alternatives with regard to the issue of the education budget.

An investment to education is also an investment to our country's future. ALYANSA enjoins the NCPAG Student Council, the NCPAG community, and every Iskolar para sa Bayan in securing quality, relevant, and accessible education for every Filipino.


March 19, 2011