UPB USC Chairperson Candidates Rate the Incumbent USC
The University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) University Student Council (USC) chairperson candidates from the Alliance of Concerned Students (ACS) and Alternatibong Katipunan ng Mag-aaral sa UP (AKMA UP) rate the incumbent USC during the Miting De Avance (MDA), May 21.
In the first round of the question and answer portion for chairperson candidates, they were asked to rate the performance of the current USC and what changes they would make as the next council.
Current USC Gender Desk Councilor and ACS member Eugene Enciso gave a rating of 8 over 10 .
“Bilang bahagi ng kasalukuyang University Student Council, I will rate the present University Student Council as eight, dahil marami pa rin naman tayong kampanyang ating napagtagumpayan sa kasalukuyang University Student Council,” Enciso said.
Enciso stated that as they enter the new council, they carry the principles of being transparent and active while recognizing the weaknesses of the current USC.
“Ngayon sa pagpasok natin sa bagong konseho ng mga mag aaral, bitbit natin ang prinsipyong gabay na transparent at aktibo dahil kinikilala natin ang mga naging kahinaan ng kasalukuyang University Student Council,” Enciso added.
In the follow-up question, Enciso was asked to give a concrete example of an issue or activity where the current USC failed.
“May mga panahon talaga na natatanta [ang] kampanya ng kasalukuyang University Student Council dahil humaharap tayo sa mas malalaking laban gaya ng budget at bureaucracy ng ating university,” Enciso answered.
Meanwhile, Jose Raphael Olalia from AKMA UP gave a rating of 6 over 10 for the incumbent USC, mentioning the need for improvements in several areas.
“Napakaraming areas of improvement na dapat nating ipanukala, katulad na lamang ng pagkakaroon ng isang discursive council, isang konsehong deliberatibo, at isang konsehong [magkakaroon] ng alternatibong boses, isang konseho na magkakaroon ng mekanismo ng checks and balances,” Olalia stated.
Olalia emphasized that it is time for the council to be open to other political parties and have a university that is not afraid of discourse.
“At panghuli, isang konsehong inklusibo sa lahat, isang konsehong tinatangan ang lahat ng estudyante ano pa man ang kanilang mga paniniwala, ano man ang kanilang mga pinaniniwalaan na ideolohiya sa kanilang pagiging progresibo,” he added.
In the follow up question, Olalia was asked if graduate and post-graduate representatives should be elected in the USC.
Olalia recognized the graduate students’ different circumstances, such as being working students and breadwinners, and highlighted their need for a representative inside the council.
“Nararapat na magkaroon ng isang representate sa loob ng konseho na boboses para sa mga graduate students katulad nga ng sinabi ko kanina, inclusive council includes from freshie to graduate students. Iba po ang pangangailangan ng mga graduate students,” Olalia answered.
Aspiring chairpersons were the last to undergo the question and answer portion with the same set of questions except for the follow-up. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ensured that the first candidate to answer the question was inaudible for the other candidate by giving them earphones.
Co-written by Beatrice Culiuan and Chinee Ortega
