Political parties confronted questions concerning students’ issues in this year’s Liyab, an issue-based debate for the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication Student Council (UP CMCSC) elections.

Candidates from Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP CMC (STAND UP CMC) and UP CMC Interdependent Student-centered Activism (ISA) answered questions raised by UP Mass Communicators Organization’s Tanungan ng Bayan and the College Electoral Board, Friday.

Both parties gave out their plans and solutions on issues of students’ safety without infringing organizations’ autonomy, funding of university publications, health and mental wellness, and disaster preparedness.

Orgs’ autonomy and students’ welfare

When asked about their take on the issue of harsh application processes of organizations within the college, Hazel Lobres, STAND UP’s CMC Representative to the University Student Council (USC) candidate and incumbent Journalism Representative, explained that Martial Law caused the stricter application process inside organizations.

“Actually nagsimula po siya noong Martial law kung saan kinakailangan na established yung trust ng mga pumapasok sa loob ng orgs, frats, at soros. Bilang mga panahong yun, hindi mo na alam kung sino yung pagkakatiwalaan mo,” she said.

STAND UP CMC believes that more than just consulting the organizations, they should also hold political discussions and leadership trainings among the students, but stressed that they recognize the organizations’ right to autonomy and the ability to regulate themselves.

“Hindi natin masisisi ang ating mga miyembro ng organisasyon dahil ito’y kanilang naging tradisyon,” STAND UP’s Broadcast Communication Representative peg Dave Guino said.

ISA also believes that the administration and the council should not interfere with the organizations’ right to organize but maintained their position to condemn any forms of hazing.

“Against tayo sa lahat ng forms ng mga hazing psychological man, physical, o kahit mental, basta magkaroon tayo ng mga problema na gagaling ang estudyante, dapat tinututulan ng ating council at administrasyon,” ISA’s Communication Research Representative candidate Arjay Torno said.

Ben Baquilod, ISA’s BC Representative candidate, reminded the students that there are consistent consultations through the Faculty-Student Relations Committee (FSRC) and the Council of Representatives (COR).

Students’ funding university publications

When asked if it’s justifiable for students to fund the Philippine Collegian, UP Diliman’s official student publication, both parties agreed it is. The issue of defunding Kule came up when an incumbent USC councilor claimed that it is “seems to be skewed to what a certain political party in the university wants.”

STAND UP CMC believes that it is justifiable to fund Kule as it gives an avenue for students to express the opinions that are not being covered by mainstream media outlets.

“Hindi siya nagpatinag noong Martial Law na patuloy kalampagin yung rehimeng Marcos, at ngayon ay malaki yung role niya na ginagampanan sa rehimeng Aquino, na isinisawalat niya yung mga isyu ngayon,” STAND UP CMC CommRes Representative peg Nathaniel Ramos argued.

ISA stressed that if school publications are controlled by the administration itself, the right and voice of the students are being taken away from them.

“Naniniwala rin po kami sa UP CMC ISA na sa pamamagitan ng student publications, magkakaroon tayo ng platforms kung saan pwede nating kalampagin yung administrasyon para doon sa impormasyon na hindi nila ibinibigay nang direkta sa atin, doon sa impormasyon na tinitwis nila, ganyan,” ISA’s CMC Representative to the USC Andrea Mascunana said.

Promoting multisensitivity, health, and mental wellness

With the growing numbers of health and wellness issues in the country, the issue of promoting multisensitivity was also brought up to the parties.

“Maliban pa doon sa ilalapit yung mga pasilidad, ilalapit ang ating administrasyon sa mga kabataan, ilalapit natin sila sa kapwa na mga kabataan na nakakaranas rin ng same struggle ngayon,” STAND UP CommRes Representative peg Angelyn Silvestre said.

ISA reiterated that it is important to bring and raise awareness to the students. The party introduced Project Embrace and Project Highlight which aim to tackle health and wellness, gender diversity, nationalism, and beauty, and acceptance.

ISA Journalism Representative peg Felicia Recto said, “The issues that we tackle are not only encompassing the society but also something that an individual experiences because we know, I’m pretty sure that we know people, or we ourselves experience these personal issues.”

“Hindi lang naman kasi sapat yung awareness lang, kasi nga sabi nga dun sa isa naming subject na, yung awareness, siya na yung pinakamaliit na magagampanan mo eh. Kailangan ma-change mo yung behavior at kailangan ma-call mo siya to act on these problems,” Silvestre rebutted.

Disaster preparedness

As for the issue of preparing the university for possible disasters, ISA proposed to enhance disaster risk reduction management through coordination with the administration, student councils and organizations, and evacuation.

“Isa sa mga kailangan nating gawin ay ang magkaroon ng guidance sa necessary procedures, mga necessary consultations with administration para maensure natin na magkaroon tayo ng sapat na budget para maisakatuparan yung DRM plan natin,” ISA chairperson candidate Manuel San Mateo said.

STAND UP CMC brought up that collective call on full-state subsidy is needed to improve all facilities in the university and to carry out the disaster risk reduction management plan.

“Matagal nang pinapanawagan ng STAND UP ang full state subsidy kasi we have to exhaust all forms, we have to exhaust all means,” STAND UP Secretary peg Alyanna Heramia called out.