UP PADYAK: An Interview with the UP Mountaineers

Biking has never been big in this part of the world. However, the new “UP PADYAK” project led by the UP Mountaineers may soon change all that. CHE Representative Rinno Camilit (also the Environmental Concerns Committee Chairperson) seeks to unravel the greater implications of this project to the university through a dialogue with the UP Mountaineers.

Last May 9, 2008, Rep. Camilit went to interview Mr. Joselito Gonzales, a member of the UPM for 10 years and a graduate of the UP College of Architecture. As both a mountaineer and as an architectural graduate, Mr. Gonzales is at the crux of the hot issues surrounding the implementation of the One-Way Academic Oval policy and the bike lane. Mr. Gonzales is also one of the strongest advocates of bicycles as alternative form of transportation for the Philippines.

Mr. Gutierrez talks to the UP PADYAK Volunteers

According to Mr. Gutierrez, the UP Padyak project was spearheaded by the alumni members of the UP Mountaineers. Their mission is to promote cycling, environmental protection, and a healthy lifestyle. Currently, they have 16 bikes that are being used by volunteers (all of whom are UP students) to promote the project. Don’t be surprised if you see one of these beautiful bikes roaming around campus:

So far, the project is in it’s infant phase. Mr. Gutierrez claims that with only 16 bikes and no localized bike storage system implemented by the UP administration, the biggest concern of the future UP Padyak bikers is the possibility of theft.

Another problem that they’re facing is the purchase of additional bikes for rent because the project is on a limited budget. Although many private companies have already offered to give funding, the UP Mountaineers insist that its their last option because they want to protect the pure interests of the organization in promoting this project.

How can we make UP PADYAK a successful project?

1.) Encourage the Administrators/Local Councils of each college to build and maintain bike racks.

2.) Encourage student organizations to participate in the biking campaign. They may contact the UP Mountaineers if they want to order bikes*, so that the organization can process the organizations’ cumulative requests (wholesale purchases cost less than single purchases).

*Author’s note: Maybe we can ask the UP Mountaineers if they do custom bikes and if they can organize a bike parade as a culminating activity for the inaugural year of UP Padyak. Imagine American Chopper, only with real bikes this time.

For more information (and photos) on the project, visit www.padyak.org. If you or your organization would like to participate in this project, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Environmental Concerns Committee or ask to be redirected in the USC Office. Our EnviCom Chair can be contacted at 0906-2218248. You may also write to padyakbikes@gmail.com or text 0916-6001225 if you are interested.

Manifesto on the Acad Oval Policy

Below is a manifesto prepared by the University Student Council’s Community Rights & Welfare Committee under CSWCD Rep. Carmela Lagang seeking for a moratorium on the “One-Way Acad Oval” traffic policy of the UP Admin.
 
MANIFESTO OF UNITY AGAINST THE UNDEMOCRATIC IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ONE-WAY ACADEMIC OVAL POLICY
University Student Council (Community Rights & Welfare Committee)
All-UP Workers Union (AUPWU)
Office of the Student Regent (OSR)
Samahan ng mga Manininda sa UP (SMUP)
All-UP Transportation Forum (AUPTF)
All-UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU)

We believe that the history of our University proves that as a community, we have a proud tradition of taking part in the struggles of the people in and out of the University. Different sectors of our community, from the students to the residents of the various communities in campus, to the jeepney drivers and operators, contribute greatly in the everyday flow of activities in our university. As such, it is our role to be acquainted with each other’s demands regarding our issues and concerns as a community.
At the last week of March this year, the UP Administration imposed a “one-way policy” around the Academic Oval inside our campus. The rationale behind this policy is to lessen the pollution in campus and the volume of vehicles inside. However, this kind of scheme does not significantly reduce the number of vehicles that enter the university every day and it may even produce more vehicular emissions due to lengthened routes for public and private vehicles.

This kind of policy has affected the livelihood of UP transport groups, especially the drivers and operators of the Toki and Katipunan franchises. There have been no formal consultations between the transport groups, the students, and other affected sectors of the UP community by the UP Administration before the implementation of the policy. The “one-way policy” of the UP Administration adds more to the diminution of their income and has also created lengthened routes that force additional consumption of oil in a time when oil price hikes are relentless. According to the jeepney drivers, their incomes have not been enough to sustain an average family size of six members, as there is also a prevailing economic and political crisis in our country.

Aside from these predicaments, various student organizations and individuals were also consulted by the University Student Council and has expressed the inconvenience that the policy has brought them. Because of the lengthening and limitations in transport routes, it has taken many students a longer time to go to their classes and other important destinations in campus.
We, members of the different sectors of the UP community, recognize the services jeepney drivers have rendered to us and to our community for many years. We are one with the UP transport groups in opposition to this “one-way policy” of the UP Administration and in the campaign to bring back the drivers’ previous routes. We demand for: dialogues with the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs for the democratic consultation with consent from the affected sectors of the UP community; proper representation of jeepney drivers and students in the transport committee of the UP Administration; and the immediate resolution regarding the various conflicting issues on the implementation of the “one-way scheme” around the Academic Oval.