ACoA’s and Ombudsman’s year-end Sanggunian assessment yields positive results

BY ELOIZA MARIANO AND

Looking Back

AS A.Y. 2022–2023 comes to a close, both the Ateneo Commission on Audit (AC0A) and the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) commended the Sanggunian for streamlining its operations to prioritize student welfare amid the transition to onsite learning.

Following an increase in onsite activities, ACoA Chief Commissioner Justin Jimenez said that the Sanggunian has drastically improved in spending and maximizing its budget. According to him, the Sanggunian’s expenses in previous years were comparatively hindered by the pandemic and the Sanggunian’s “confusing” processes. Due to low manpower, ACoA and OMB are both still currently working on their respective annual reports of the Sanggunian. Additionally, ACoA’s first semester audit report on the Sanggunian’s expenditure will be released by the end of the second semester.

Safeguarding Power

As per the 2019 Constitution of the Undergraduate Students of the Ateneo de Manila Loyola Schools, ACoA works together with the OMB and the Student Judicial Court to hold the Sanggunian accountable. Particularly, ACoA monitors the Sanggunian’s financial accounts under the Office of Student Activities.

Similar to what they did during the first semester, ACoA commented on the Sanggunian’s budget for the second semester, specifically on the need for food and token expenses used in unit-exclusive events or meetings.

However, Jimenez added that the Sanggunian did not get back to them before the signing of the Sanggunian Act no. 26, which detailed the final allocation of the Sanggunian’s funds for the second semester.

Moreover, as the Official Investigative Arm of the Sanggunian, OMB looks into complaints and handles the legal procedures of prosecuting and taking action against Sanggunian members for varied degrees of negligence, red tape, mismanagement, and corruption. OMB also holds seminars and events to raise awareness among students regarding accountability and transparency.

Delving into their report for A.Y. 2022–2023, OMB Ombudsman Timothy Ecarma stated that last semester, they received only three complaints about Sanggunian members neglecting their duties. Moreover, Ecarma mentioned that the OMB’s annual report to be released by the end of the academic year will be based on these complaints and interactions with the Sanggunian.

When asked about the performance of the student government, Sanggunian President TJ Alcantara recalled the Sanggunian’s vision for AY 2022–2023: “Together, We Move.” He enumerated the Sanggunian’s three challenges: the return to onsite classes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2022 National and Local Elections.

Alcantara further clarified that the Sanggunian focused more on responding to challenges rather than simply solving them. He cited examples such as conducting constituency checks during natural disasters and voicing out opposition to certain national policies.

Recognizing such efforts, Isabella Rodriguez (2 AB COM) felt that students were effectively represented this academic year, especially through online initiatives like Sabihin sa Sanggu and the LS One Big Forum Facebook group.

“I think [the Sanggunian] has shown continuous involvement in student life. They are always quick to respond to questions, admin announcements, natural calamities, and the like, while simultaneously setting events like … One Big Pride,” Rodriguez said.

Regarding his administration’s other AY 2022–2023 priorities, Alcantara also mentioned that the student government attempted to “reframe or reimagine” their existing processes during their term.

With regard to the Sanggunian’s shortcomings, Alcantara shared that their weakness was primarily on burnout among their members. Transitioning onsite, members had to balance and readjust their priorities beyond academics and extracurricular activities.

Hopes And Opportunities

While the feedback for the Sanggunian’s performance this academic year was generally positive, ACoA and OMB, as well as Alcantara, expressed their hopes for the incoming student administration.

According to Alcantara, there are four specific things that he hopes the next Sanggunian can continue to stand for: mobility, climate action, workers’ rights, and the Sanggunian Student Agenda 2030.

As the proposed blueprint from 2023 to 2030, the Sanggunian Student Agenda 2030 will contain the goals, aspirations, and general direction of the student council on various issues in the next seven years.

Meanwhile, Jiminez asserted that he hopes for the incoming Sanggunian to be more responsive to ACoA’s comments, in relation to their experience with the Second Semester Budget Hearing. Ecarma, on the other hand, proposed for more conformity within the Sanggunian’s systems through the integration of processes across the different offices. “They’re (Sanggunian offices) all operating independently from one another, and some of them can be more efficient than others,” Ecarma explained.

Overall, both ACoA and OMB report a good impression of this year’s Sanggunian, with the main point of improvement being better streamlined processes and coordination among the offices. Alcantara voiced the same sentiment and further added that the Sanggunian is a “work in progress.”