NOISE BARRAGE SPARKS DIALOGUE BETWEEN PUPIANS, ADMINISTRATION

BY NATHANIEL VIZCONDE | PHOTO BY ERICKA CASTILLO

STUDENTS of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) staged a noise barrage outside the PUP President’s office on April 17, demanding a dialogue with the university administration on the power outage and the conflict on the PUP-Department of National Defense (DND) accord.

The protest was prompted after a letter sent from the PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral (PUP-SKM) on March 30, requesting a dialogue on the said conflicts, which has remained unanswered by the administration for over two weeks.

PUP-SKM along with other organizations led the protest from University Avenue to South Wing, resulting in the administration’s invitation to an immediate dialogue at Mateo Hall, where College of Communication Student Council (COC SC) President Ronjay-C Mendiola and SKM Vice President Benhur Queqquegan represented the studentry.

ON POWER OUTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN

The administration laid three solutions on how face-to-face classes could continue amid the Mabini Campus power outage: the use of generators, the power supply expansion from the PUP Laboratory High School (LHS), and the classroom maximization of outside buildings.

The north wing power source being the primary electricity source of the east and west wings building, including classrooms, offices, and other tapping points, apparently overloaded and caused the explosion during demolition that prompted the power outage on the campus.

The north wing power source being the primary electricity source of the east and west wings building, including classrooms, offices, and other tapping points, apparently overloaded and caused the explosion during demolition that prompted the power outage on the campus.

However, requiring eight drums of fuel per day for the generators was seen by the administration as a big problem as the “on-the-need basis” direct procurement of fuels costs P100,000.

Another solution proposed by Physical Planning and Development Office Director Architect Reynaldo Ventura is to separate tapping points of power sources from the Laboratory High School (LHS), Ninoy Aquino Library, and PUP Gymnasium, and distribute supply to affected classrooms through a cabling system once the Manila City Local Government approves.

The contractor of PUP LHS also said that the city hall guarantees the approval “within the week” which has been pending since the administration submitted permits and documents in September 2022 for distribution.

Facilities Management Office Director Jean Paul Martirez and Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs Edelyn Mariano reiterated the maximization of face-to-face classes by borrowing classrooms near the main campus, including the Institute of Technology and College of Communication.

To monitor the student dormers’ situation and concerns affected by the physical classes suspension, Office of the Student Services (OSS) Director Jimmy Fernando requested their data through the power outage sensing form released by SKM on April 16.

Mendiola called out the administration to provide a comprehensive advisory on the causes of the power outages, which was addressed through an advisory from the OVPA, while Queqquegan requested another academic leniency memorandum which the admin refused due to an “already existing” policy for online classes.

ON PUP-DND UNILATERAL ABROGATION

Meanwhile, Liao revealed that the 1990 Prudente-Ramos agreement with PUP was unilaterally abrogated by DND through a letter sent last January 19, 2022, with the students being notified by the university admin more than 400 days late.

The PUP administration also expressed its disappointment over the decision and wrote back a letter requesting reconsideration and dialogue but received no response.

Liao assured the safety of the students amid the threats of the accord termination.

“Kami, naniniwala na with or without accord, we are protected kasi ‘yung mga constitutional basis kung saan naman nakatungtong ‘yang accord, it’s still in line with the Constitution, diba? Freedom of speech, freedom of expression... With or without accord, we are still protected by the constitutional progressions,” said Liao.

Queqquegan also stressed that despite the abrogation, the PUP community would still uphold the essence of the accord.

“It was unilaterally abrogated, pero on our part, pinanghahawakan ng PUP ‘yung esensya ng PUP-DND accord,” he said.

He added that he hopes for “synergistic efforts between the students and the administration” in solving the power outage and upholding the PUP-DND accord.