THE TWO candidates running unopposed for Central Student Council (CSC) offices unveiled their plans and platforms during the Tagisan 2024, where they were also asked about their views on various key issues.
CSC secretary bet Meckia Villanueva and CSC public relations officer aspirant Annie Agon aligned on most topics during the mandatory debate at the St. Raymund de Peñafort Building on Nov. 9.
Both candidates expressed support for the CSC charter revision, student activism, hybrid learning modality, academic breaks, and the integration of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) in UST policies.
Both opposed the mandatory implementation of the contentious Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), University control over student publications, and tuition hikes.
However, Villanueva and Agon differed on the issue of jeepney modernization.
Here’s a closer look at their stances on some of the key issues discussed during the debate.
CSC cha-cha
Like former CSC officers who have attempted to revise the council’s charter, candidates Villanueva and Agon stressed the urgent need to update the “outdated” 2003 CSC Constitution.
Villanueva attributed the decline in political participation at UST to the old charter.
“Ang constitution revision ay isa sa mga hakbang upang higit na mapaigting ‘yong power na mayroon tayo bilang isang konseho…at para ma-bridge ‘yong gap sa administrasyon,” she said.
Since the charter serves as the “backbone” of the council, Agon said it must remain relevant to the evolving needs of the Thomasian student body.
“May mga instances na hindi na talaga gaanong swak [‘yong constitution] sa panahon ngayon,” she said. “Sa pagiging outdated niya ay nalilimitahan ‘yong student council na kumilos sa iba’t ibang issue.”
Mandatory ROTC
The mandatory implementation of ROTC has long been a contentious issue at UST, especially after the death of Mark Welson Chua, the Thomasian cadet who exposed anomalies within the University’s ROTC unit to the Varsitarian, in 2001.
Both candidates opposed the revival of mandatory ROTC, citing Chua’s case as evidence of the program’s susceptibility to corruption and abuse of power.
Agon argued that compulsory military training in college would place a financial burden on students, while Villanueva said it would infringe upon students’ democratic freedoms.
Senate Bill 2034, which seeks the reinstate mandatory ROTC after it was abolished in the wake of Chua’s death, was recently marked as a priority bill in the Senate following orders from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Student activism
Agon, chairperson of Kabataan Partylist UST, emphasized the importance of student activism in schools where students face repression. She also highlighted the role student activism played in significant national movements, such as the People Power Revolution.
Villanueva, meanwhile, said the right to organize should be used to bring students’ concerns to the UST administration.
“Dapat lamang na gamitin natin ang boses ng bawat isa upang magamit ang plataporma na mayroon tayo at maiparating ‘yong stance natin sa iba’t ibang issue na mayroon tayo sa loob man o labas ng Unibersidad,” she said.
Jeepney modernization
The two CSC aspirants held differing views on jeepney modernization, with Villanueva supporting the policy and Agon opposing its implementation.
Agon argued that the burden of modernization would fall heavily on jeepney drivers and operators. The modernization process is already underway as the deadline for franchise consolidation—the first step—lapsed in April after several extensions.
Villanueva clarified that while she opposed the outright phasing out of traditional jeepneys, she supported their modernization.
“Kung magkakaroon tayo ng tamang sistema sa implementation, hindi magkakaroon ng added burden sa ating mga tsuper,” she said. “Ang pagsang-ayon na ito ay hindi pagtalikod sa ating sariling kultura kapag napalitan ang mga tradisyonal na jeepney.”
SOGIE in UST policies
Agon believed that adopting a SOGIE-inclusive perspective in University policies should not be up for debate, emphasizing that schools needed to be safe spaces for all students.
While acknowledging that implementing SOGIE policies at UST, the Pontifical and Catholic University of the Philippines, might be challenging, Villanueva maintained that such integration would promote “equality” on campus.
“Nagkakaroon tayo ng progreso upang higit na makita ng administrasyon ang kahalagahan sa pagsang-ayon at pagsuporta sa ganitong movement na kinakailangan para sa higit na pagkakapantay-pantay ng bawat isa sa loob ng Unibersidad,” she said.
Tuition hikes
Agon rued the lack of student consultation whenever UST implemented a tuition hike.
“Hindi talaga directly nagkakaroon ng consultation sa bawat estudyante kung gusto ba nito ng tuition fee increase,” she said. “Mahalaga na ma-consult at mabigyan kami ng boses kung gusto ba namin magtaas ng tuition o hindi.”
This academic year, UST implemented a 4% tuition increase for college freshmen. Since the increase did not affect other year levels, the required consultation process with the student government, faculty, alumni, and non-teaching staff was waived.
READ: UST freshmen tuition up 4%
Villanueva said there should be improved transparency in the allocation of funds.
“Hindi dapat natin ipatupad ng basta-basta at maaari tayo makipagdiyalogo sa administrasyon patungkol sa ganitong bagay para makapagbuo tayo ng compromise,” the secreatry candidate said.
CSC vacancies
Another issue raised during the debate was how the CSC candidates would effectively handle the responsibilities of the five vacant positions if both were elected.
Agon said she would encourage all Thomasians, even those not running for CSC positions, to take part in fostering genuine student representation.
Villanueva said she plans to seek out capable officers from local councils to help manage the unoccupied roles. She believed the CSC could still function even without a complete Executive Board.
“It will not be just a two-man team dahil magkakaroon naman ng mga staff who will we be working close with throughout the journey if elected,” she said. “If we could choose the right heads and officers in charge, the council can still be functional.”
“At wala rin naman sa dami ng taong nakaupo sa posisyon ‘yong pagkakaroon natin ng ability na to represent yung student body,” she added. Amanda Luella A. Rivera with reports from Fernando Pierre Marcel B. Dela Cruz and Carlo Jose H. Ruga
