No to Cha-Cha! No to GMA!

Amidst the current political crisis besieging the current regime, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who has experienced the most number of impeachment complaints, is now attempting to escape charges of corruption, election cheating, economic plunder, and human rights violations by extending her term in office through Charter change. As if the people’s suffering under her administration is not enough, the Arroyo administration shall only exacerbate further the tragic conditions we have found ourselves through Charter proposals that will intensify policies that have only favored those in power.

Tireless Attempts
In 2006, GMA brazenly declared, with the approval from then-Speaker Jose de Venecia and former President Fidel V. Ramos, that it was “time for the great debate on charter change.” That year, we witnessed the staggering haste with which the House of Representatives, under the leadership of De Venecia sought to pursue amendments to the Constitution. Disregarding basic parliamentary and long-established house rules, majority of the House of Representatives, railroaded the passing of a resolution to amend the constitution by calling the Senate to convene into a constitutional assembly. That year, GMA and De Venecia proposed to change the form of government from Presidential to Parliamentary. As incentive to her supporters, she dangled the prospect of membership in the interim parliament. Despite their denials, it is apparent that it is Arroyo and her allies who were nearing their last term in office saw the opportunity to extend their stay in government.

Two years later (one year before GMA’s term will expire), the same moves are being displayed by GMA. This time, she has thrown her full support for Federalism, if only to create the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity which only recently was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional. In all her attempts, had it not been for the strong public outcry, threats to conduct massive rallies and the very evident lack of support of the people from different sectors, GMA would not have pulled her dogs back.

We say no because every time the great debate is started, the terms of many-a-politicians, GMA especially included, are dubiously about to end. We say no because of the irreverence displayed by GMA and her allies in railroading amendments to the constitution, the highest law of the land, and by-product of our successful overthrow of the Marcos dictatorship. We say no because, as sessions in Congress are about to end, our Representatives and Senators have chosen to bicker over the process of amending our Constitution at the expense of much-needed legislation such as the Reproductive Health Bill and Agrarian Bill which lamentably have been debated on longer than they are willing to debate on the Constitution. Instead of addressing perennial social issues in light of the country’s worsening economic and social conditions, they have chosen instead to focus on the Charter change at the expense of the people’s genuine interests.

Tireless Protest
The Arroyo administration’s tireless attempt at violating our democratic rights and interests is and shall be confronted with the people’s tireless displays of rejection and protests. Akin to the people’s decisive rejection of Fidel Ramos’ attempt at Charter change (which sought to change the form of government from presidential to parliamentary which gave the President and many other politicians the space to extend their terms in office), and Joseph Estrada’s Constitutional Correction for Development (Con-Cord) (which sought to remove the ‘restrictive’ economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution), it is the people, through collective action, who will similarly put a definite end to Gloria Arroyo’s tireless effort to change the Constitution, which, following the trend of her previous attempts, must be rejected for the following reasons:

1. Charter Change is a ploy to perpetuate Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in power by setting aside serious questions about her legitimacy and legalizing her term until 2010 and beyond.

2. Charter Change may be used to resurrect martial law.
a. The 60-day limit to martial law and suspension of writ is removed.
b. Congress may not revoke the proclamation of martial law or writ suspension.
c. The Supreme Court can no longer review the factual basis for the declaration of martial law.
d. There will be a new ground for declaring martial law, which is vague and open to abuse.
e. Under transitory provisions, Mrs. Arroyo will have the additional power to dissolve Parliament.

3. Charter Change will sell out national patrimony and economy.
a. Foreign entities will be granted the right to own residential, commercial and industrial land
b. Foreign entities will be allowed to exploit natural resources.
c. Foreign entities will be allowed to control and/or operate public utilities such as water, electricity and telecommunications.

4. Charter Change can further undermine our national identity and culture as it will also allow foreign ownership of mass media, educational institutions and advertising firms.

5. Charter Change will degrade national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
a. It will pave the way for the return of foreign military bases
b. There will be no limit to the entry of foreign troops and facilities.
c. Ratification of treaties and other international agreements favoring foreign interests will be made easier.

By their haste, and very patent personal interests alone, it is obvious why we, the people, are being systematically excluded in this “great debate.” It is not us who stubbornly say no. It is them who stubbornly pursue a change that the people has consistently refused.

No to Cha-Cha.
No to GMA.

Revising the Election Code

Standing as the highest student representative body, the University Student Council (USC) organizes and directs campaigns, activities and services for the welfare of its fellow students and the rest of the UP community. Central to its existence is the mandate entrusted to it by its electors, the iskolars ng bayan at para sa bayan. Truly, the institution has a rich and diverse history, a tradition of activism worth upholding until the next hundred years. However, it is equally essential to strengthen the foundation of this very institution for the benefit of the university. Not only is the current Election Code written for an election process that takes place every first semester, but several other provisions have become obsolete through time. Peculiar to the process of selecting our student body is the use of electronic voting as first observed from last March. It is in this regard that the need for the revision of the University Election Code emerged.

Before the start of the first semester, the USC created the Election Code Reform Committee (ECRC) as an ad hoc committee to perform the following tasks: organize the Students Electoral Reform Congress composed of USC members, the LCC (League of College Councils) and the party representatives, as well as coordinate with OSA (Office of Student Activities) and the OVCSA (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs); gather and collate all submitted reforms; amalgamate and lobby for proposed reforms, and efficiently disseminate pertinent information on the progress of the Congress.

A series of consultations with representatives from the three parties: ALYANSA, KAISA and STAND-UP occurred last semester. A discussion of the articles of the current Election Code, revisions submitted by last year’s USC and proposals given by the University Student Electoral Board (USEB) and University Student Electoral Tribunal (USET) led to some unity proposals. Meanwhile, conflicting proposals were left to the deliberation and discretion of the Centennial University Student Council. In accordance to the introduction of the automated elections, the University of the Philippines Linux Users Group (UnPLUG) presented the software Halalan, which was used by some colleges like Engineering, Mass Communication and Business Administration last election period. The League of College Councils (LCC) composed of all college councils in UP Diliman was also consulted for proposed revisions and amendments.

Some of the major provisions for the Election Code are as follows:

• added to Article 1, Section 4 as one of the objectives of the Code is “To institute a manner of election that shall uphold the autonomous, democratic, and representational character of the University Student Council”;
• Section 1.a of Article 3 will be repealed and will therefore allow freshmen students to run for a position in the USC;
• USC candidates under the revised Section 1.b of Article 3 must also maintain good academic standing as defined by university rules;
• each graduate school under the new Election Code will elect a graduate representative who will select amongst themselves the Graduate School Representative to the USC; and
• unlike before, the Election Code will now state a set of procedures to be followed in cases of ties.

The USC will also submit a set of proposed guidelines for the pursuance of automated elections. The committee through the Law Student Government (LSG) is now in the process of drafting the new Election Code to be presented to the three parties and is scheduled to be passed to the OVCSA and the next Board of Regents (BOR) meeting for approval.

UP Goes Eco-Active

The ECO-Active Day was about to start and set-up was being completed, as students started to gather around the Grandstand. The Mini Program, the first activity for the day, was underway. It was behind schedule but nonetheless, everything else about the program went well. The participants were welcomed by USC Chairperson Third Bagro’s opening remarks where he explained the ECO-Active Campaign and its four highlight projects: Adopt-a-Tree, Ban the Styro, Dagdag Padyak, and Readings on Recycled. The participants were not kept waiting as the program started right away with no less than the Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia Mr. Von Hernandez. He talked about environmentalism and shared his wisdom from his more than fifteen years of experience as an environmental activist. Afterwards, Mr. Enrique Gallardo of the Solar Electric Company brought excitement to the program with the high-tech eco-friendly gadgets he demonstrated and let students dabble with. The last speaker was the renowned environmentalist and one of Time Magazine’s 2003 Asian Heroes, Ms. Chin-Chin Gutierrez. She inspired the participants by asserting that before having advocacies, we first have to make the advocates, precisely the essence of ECO-Active. All speakers inspired students to continue the practice of being environmentally conscious. The performers from the UP Singing Ambassadors were also instrumental in achieving that. The Mini Program ended with the closing remarks from yours truly as the ECO-Active Project Head.
The perfect weather continued in the afternoon as students lined up to join the second ECO-Active Day activity, the March for the Environment. Participants rushed early in front of the Vinzons Hall to enlist in what would be the biggest march yet in UP dedicated to the environment. In front was the e-jeepney that was lent by the Green Renewable Independent Power Producer (GRIPP). UP Kontra Gapi led the participants to a lively march, chanting “Kalikasan alagaan para sa kinabukasan.” Worthy to note also were the padyak bikes ridden by students and some USC members, which displayed one of the highlight projects of ECO-Active, which is the Dagdag Padyak Project. The march transpired around the Academic Oval, passing through the University Avenue and going to a few stops including the AS Steps at Palma Hall, where participants got more energetic and animated in shouting out loud the chant. The march ended at the same spot where it started, Vinzons Hall. Participants were then invited to join the last of the activities for the ECO-Active Day, the Human Formation.

Immediately after the instructions had been given, the participants proceeded to the Sunken Garden. After several minutes, with approximately 15-20 students per letter, the human formation “BAN STYRO” was formed, the signal that UP will soon be styro-free and a call for other communities to do the same. The end of the ECO-Active day saw the students singing wholeheartedly UP Naming Mahal.

This, my fellow Iskolars para sa Bayan, is only the beginning. Let us collectively show that we truly are also Iskolars para sa Kalikasan by supporting our next projects and by leading an ECO-Active lifestyle.