2 March 2016, 1:30 pm – THE
DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) is not fully prepared for K to 12, and should
suspend its implementation, according to two senatorial candidates.
In
a forum at the Benavides Auditorium on March 1, senatorial candidates Susan
“Toots” Ople, a UST alumna, and Roman Romulo agreed that K to 12 was necessary
for the improvement of education in the country, but there were still “gaps”
that needed to be filled.
Ople,
who is running under the Nacionalista Party of businessman Manuel Villar Jr.,
said the masses should be informed about what the K to 12 basic education
system is. “The K to 12 is necessary for the improvement of education here in
the country, but there are still gaps. Madami pa tayong kulang,” Ople
said.
For
his part, Romulo, a congressman from Pasig who headed the House education
committee, said: “K-12 is a good concept. Unfortunately, hindi preparado ang
DepEd para sa implementation nito ngayong taon. May lack of classrooms,
facilities, equipment and teachers.”
Platforms
Ople
said she would push for the passage of a Magna Carta of Students that would
help empower students on issues like tuition increase. “If I’m elected, I will
support it. [S]a Magna Carta, may students’ voice and prior consultations
regarding sa increase ng fees and also dun sa redundant fees na iba-iba lang
`yung tawag pero halos for the same purpose,” she said.
On
the issue of legalizing same-sex marriage, Romulo said all forms of
discrimination should be removed first.
According
to Ople, legalizing same-sex marriage in the country would be like “trying
to move a mountain.”
“Ang
same-sex marriage, mahirap talagang ipasa. [P]ero ako, I would be very much in
favor and I would be the one to support anti-discrimination against the LGBT
community,” she said.
On
the issue of divorce, Romulo said he would like to review the process of legal
separation in the country. “Siguro `yung ibang mga provision ay pwede nating
gawin na mas madali `yung proseso.”
Ople
said women should be given access to legal help. “Lalo na `yung mga kababaihan
na nasa most remote areas of the country. Kasi Pilipinas ito, kung sino `yung
may access sa mahusay na abogado, kung sino `yung may pera, `yun `yung madalas
ba mananaig,” she said. “And it’s not just in divorce but in other court
proceedings as well.”
Ople
also vowed to build hospitals for overseas Filipino workers, provide assistance
programs for human trafficking survivors and establish a department for
migration and development.
She
said she would fight labor contracting. “Sabi nila sa akin that’s an uphill
battle, you’ll get the ire of the wealthiest business people. I don’t care. I
only care that you—the generation that will succeed us—will get greater access
to a basic labor right, which is security of tenure,” Ople said.
To
attract more investors into the country, Romulo said he would ensure the
implementation of the Data Privacy Act of 2012, a law he authored. The act
seeks to protect private data in information and communications systems in both
the government and private sectors.
“Pinalawak
po natin `yung pagkakataon na mag-setup po dito sa Pilipinas ang BPOs and call
centers para may proteksyon po ang information na kanilang ipinapasok sa
bansa,” he said.
The
forum, titled “I AM: Senatorial Forum 2016,” spearheaded by the Artlets Student
Council, in partnership with the UP College of Arts and Letters Student Council
and the De La Salle University Liberal Arts College Student Government, was
held as part of celebrations marking the 120th founding anniversary of the
Faculty of Arts and Letters. Mary
Gillan Frances G. Ropero and Alhex Adrea M. Peralta
