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

"PROLIFE," ANTI-MOP (Marginalized, Oppressed, Powerless)

The Reproductive Health and Gender Advocates (RH AGENDA) raises its vehement indignation regarding the creation of "Ang PROLIFE", an organization which currently seeks accreditation as a party-list from the COMELEC.

UP ALYANSA is a proud member of the RH AGENDA Movement.

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 on the Corona conviction

UP ALYANSA is one with the country in celebrating our successful pursuit of the truth, all for transparency and accountability. 

Iskolar para sa Bayan, kasama ka sa pagbabago!

CONVICT CORONA!

Public office is public trust. Our experiences as nation pushed us to enshrine what we hold essential in the fundamental law of our land. We stand firm in our resolve that corruption and the politics of patronage should never have a place in our government. We know that while it may be long before we completely cleanse leadership of selfish interests, we have to act now.

At this crucial point in our history, we say enough. UP ALYANSA calls for the conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

UP ALYANSA's #CoronaWatch (beginning May 22, 2012)

This coming Tuesday, Chief Justice Corona will appear in front of the senator-judges to answer the points raised against him. 

As vigilant Scholars for the Nation, let's take part in this historic impeachment proceeding by being one with civil society in making sure that he is accountable for his actions as chief magistrate of the land. 

ALL FOR TRANSPARENCY. WE ARE WATCHING YOU. 

#CoronaWatch on Tuesday!

Freshies Para Sa Bayan Website - Freshie Guide from UP ALYANSA!

Visit www.updfreshies.weebly.com to get hold of the best info for incoming students of Diliman. Also, freshies will be given an exclusive ALYANSA Freshie Pocket Calendar at the Freshmen Orientation Program at CSWCD from May 8-12.

Iskolar para sa Bayan, salubungin natin ang mga bagong Isko at Iska sa UP Diliman!

Labor Day 2012

ISKOLAR PARA SA BAYAN, kasama ka sa paggunita ng ARAW NG PAGGAWA ngayong May 1.

Ipaglaban natin ang karapatan ng ating mga manggagawa!

Ipasa na ang SECURITY OF TENURE BILL!

INACTION: Never an Option!

The issue of fraternity-related violence and its prevalence in the university is an old and continuing one. The root cause is complex but the effect of such –violence- is simple and crude. It requires us to understand a subculture that presents itself as strong and relevant on the outside but dirty and delusional on the inside. Supposedly intelligent people participate in an activity that is selfish and devoid of any bit of wisdom. Frat-related violence is wrong and illegal in all levels.

As narrated in the Statement of Facts released by the University Student Council, cars were smashed, property stolen and people were physically hurt. In the March 15 incident, the windshield of a car belonging to a resident of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity was broken. The latter two events which occurred last March 21 and 26 involved residents of the Sigma Rho Fraternity whose lives were put in danger and their property damaged. The facts can be seen in the police reports filed with the UP Diliman Police. To be clear, the fraternity members involved were victims in the incidents that took place. It is not useful to accuse them or their fraternities of anything when the facts are not yet clear. There is also talk that other fraternities are involved but it is also not helpful to do guesswork. What is clear though is that both the police report and the circumstances reveal that the incidents are fraternity-related. It is old news but it remains pressing. We must start doing something.

UP Alyansa calls for accountability, security, and a change of mindset. We call on the perpetrators to man up and take responsibility. Repair the damage and accept the consequences of your actions. To the victims, tell us your story. Don’t hide information so that you can use it to exact revenge and get a point up in the scorecard. What you call a private little conflict is not so little and no longer private. All of us are affected. We challenge the fraternities, if they are truly committed to peace, to publicly condemn acts of violence of their brothers. We call for a condemnation that does not come only in the form of press release but is demonstrated by non-participation in any form of violence.

Then again, we are tired of wishful thinking. So, we also call on the university administration, specifically the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the officials in charge of campus security to enforce the rules. Investigate thoroughly and follow through. Surely, we have the resources and political will to do that. A truce is acceptable for immediate peace but not as a long-term solution. We have seen time and again that a truce can easily be violated and it does not prevent further acts of violence. We are way past the high time to address the issue but better late than never.

We also recognize that the present rules need to be updated. We must provide more remedies to do away with private agreements that belittle the public interest in acts of violence in the university. Thus, UP Alyansa is asking the administration to give us the chance to review the rules and revise it to suit present conditions. Before we even look forward, we must let the consequences of past and present actions take its course. Let us be accountable as students and as administrators.

Next, we also call on the appropriate administrative offices to treat fraternity-related violence seriously. We need to scale up security inside the campus and refine the protocol. As for the student body, it is best that we remain vigilant. We are witnesses to the violence. We have a duty to protect ourselves, our fellow Iskolars para sa Bayan and the institution that we are part of. We must help by reporting and providing information when we have it. We also urge all student councils, alliances, organizations, and house councils to join the initiatives of Student Led Anti- Frat Related Violence Watch (SAWA).

Lastly, UP Alyansa is one in the call for the fraternities to reexamine their role in the university. We recognize the countless nation-building efforts and philanthropic works of fraternities, but given the current context, these efforts are becoming mere shadows of high profile cases of fraternity-related violence on campus. We also call on the alumni to help the fraternities rebuild their original academic, service-oriented and humanitarian thrust. The fraternity residents listen to you. Be very good examples of UP leadership and service. UP Alyansa proposes to actually start finding a solution to a complex problem. Inaction has never been an option.

ISKOLAR PARA SA BAYAN, KASAMA KA LABAN SA FRATERNITY-RELATED VIOLENCE.