THE TWO candidates for the Central Student Council (CSC) special elections outlined their plans during Tagisan 2025, the mandatory debate held on Saturday, Aug. 30.
Both candidates focused on improving student representation in campus issues and streamlining sponsorship processes for student organizations.
Legal management junior and vice president bet Rowen Oloresisino said the decline in campus political engagement among Thomasians stemmed from the lack of proper student representation.
“Sa pagbaba ng politikal na partisipasyon ng ating kapwang Tomasino, nauugat ang issue na dapat nating solusyunan: ang pagkawala ng representasyon ng estudyante,” she said.
Her three-part platform seeks to strengthen student voice through: (1) opening the doors of the CSC for student concerns, (2) consulting local political bodies, and (3) drafting policies to guide Thomasians and ensure their security.
Manuals for executive offices and local student councils will “cross-check and balance” their responsibilities.
“The office manual will serve as a regulation, lalo na at may instances na nago-overstep ‘yong other offices sa trabaho mo,” Oloresisimo said.
Confusion in previous special elections stemmed from appointees being tasked to handle different offices and administrative roles, she said.
Treasurer bet and mechanical engineering senior Kojie Uy said he would push for a sponsorship manual where “necessary processes and requirements are written down” to raise funds for projects and events.
“The goal of the manual is not to have exclusive sponsors, but to have everything laid out [on how to secure] a sponsorship,” he said.
Uy also lamented the lack of financial literacy initiatives in the University and vowed to push for seminars and workshops on financial management.
For or against
Oloresisimo and Uy aligned on key campus and national issues during the debate held at the Miguel de Benavides Conference Hall.
Both candidates agreed on increasing the taxes of high-income taxpayers to reduce inequality, recognizing transwomen’s rights, prioritizing funding for student welfare instead of UST’s events, and discouraging students from becoming apolitical.
The candidates opposed political dynasties, opening Paskuhan festivities to outsiders, and the academic use of artificial intelligence.
Oloresisimo and Uy were at odds on the issues of modernizing jeepneys, prioritizing mental health services for students, and criticizing corrupt politicians and their children.
Oloresisimo, who plans to implement a stricter waste segregation program during student-led events, agreed to the regulation of single-use plastics in UST, as long as it included proper recycling measures. This was opposed by Uy.
On investigating and condemning the children of corrupt politicians living wealthy lifestyles, Uy expressed disagreement, but Oloresisimo agreed.
This question stemmed from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who announced that he would start a crackdown against failed flood-control projects during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The president’s remarks triggered a probe into P500 billion worth of flood control projects steered by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Politicians’ influencer children flaunting their wealth are now facing backlash, with many social media users pointing out that their taxes have allegedly been funding this lifestyle.
Meanwhile, on jeepney modernization, the treasurer bet was in favor, but Oloresisimo was against it.
The University-wide special elections will run from Sept. 1 to 6. Micah G. Pascua with reports from Ashley Valkyrie E. Bueno and Louisse Raye Shara C. Santos
