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Baguio SCs, orgs strengthen call for #LigtasNaBalikEskwela, academic ease the failing education sector in the city amid the pandemic, various student Lto amenting councils and organizations based in Metro Baguio held a press conference last August 31 air their call for academic ease and the safe resumption of face-to-face classes. WORDS ERIK BILES
Prior to the press conference, Rise for Education - Metro Baguio (R4E-MB) crafted a position paper containing students’ demand for #LigtasNaBalikEskwela and immediate recommendations for academic easing, which they also presented before the Baguio City Council Session last July 19. In the position paper, R4EMB argued that funding for the #LigtasNaBalikEskwela campaign may as well be sourced from the unspent funds of Bayanihan 2 and 3, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict budget and funds incurred from COVIDresponse loans. “Funding may include, but is not limited to, retrofitting of school
facilities, health and sanitation, COVID-19 kits for students and teachers, hiring more teachers, personnel, and health officers,” the position paper read. R4E-MB also bade for the institutionalization of a wellness program that prioritizes the mental health of the students through a one-week genuine wellness break, where no activities or academic requirements would be given. Meanwhile, to further strengthen their call for academic ease, the alliance petitioned to make the deadlines more flexible, extend the period of academic completion and prohibit the mandatory attendance for synchronous classes. Gabriel Siscar, Vice Chairperson
Press freedom, LNBE muling isinusulong ng CEGP WORDS DAVE IVERSON CUESTA
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This comes with the prerequisites that vaccines should be provided, facilities be retrofitted, and university constituents supported. GABRIEL SISCAR
Vice Chaiperson, UPB USC
of University of the Philippines Baguio University Student Council (UPB USC) and convener of the Rise for Education UPB, expressed his support to the campaign, saying
NEWS 5 it is now the time to push for the resumption of physical classes. “This comes with the prerequisites that vaccines should be provided, facilities be retrofitted, and university constituents supported. For #LigtasNaBalikEskwela, the perfect time is now,” Siscar stated in an interview. “This, of course, comes with our call for mass vaccination, scientific approach to the pandemic, heeding the economic calls of the people, and demanding accountability for the failure of the government,” he added. On the other hand, the request to the Commission on Higher Education for limited face-to-face classes in UPB still has no update, said Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Bautista, for there is still a need for further coordination between the students, faculty and administration. “We are one with the whole UP system and education sector that the gradual and safe resumption of classes is integral in our learning,” Siscar said. ▼
COMELEC extends voter registration after protests, petitions WORDS JIMBO GAMBOA
fter public clamor to extend voter registration, the asunod ng patong-patong na problemang kinakaharap A Commission on Elections (COMELEC) unanimously K ng sangkaestudyantehan, kabilang na ang mga approved the extension until October 30, COMELEC mamamahayag pangkampus, inorganisa ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) ang Campus Press Demands Manifesto of Unity na nagsimula noong Hulyo 14.
Nakapaloob sa panawagan ang Ligtas na Balik-Eskwela (LNBE) kabilang na ang pagbibigay ng 10k student aid at pagbuo ng makaestudyanteng moda ng pagkatuto. Gayundin, hiling ng CEGP ang pagpapaigting ng tunay na malayang pahayagang pangkampus sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng sapat na pondo sa mga publikasyon at pagpasa ng House Bill 319 o Campus Press Freedom Bill na naunang ipinanukala noon pang 2011. Kasama rin sa tatlong panawagan ang pagbabalik-operasyon sa mga opisina ng mga pahayagang pangkampus at pagbibigay ng mas malawak na espasyo sa mga gawaing pampublikasyon, na nakapailalim sa panawagang pagpapatuloy ng mga face-to-face classes. Sa kanilang Facebook post, idiniin ng CEGP ang lantarang pagatake sa mga mamamahayag sa buong bansa maging sa mga kasapi ng University of the Philippines (UP) Solidaridad, na kinabibilangan ng UP Baguio Outcrop, tulad ng PAGE DESIGN ISAGANI CASPE
mga insidente ng red-tagging at pambabanta sa kanilang buhay. Gayunpaman, ayon sa CEGP, nananatiling malinaw ang layunin ng mga mamamahayag pangkampus: ang maghatid ng mga balita at impormasyon para sa masa. “Despite all these, the press continues to take up the challenge of providing accessible and reliable news and updates for the masses and their interests,” pahayag ng alyansa. Isinama rin nila ang hiling ng mga estudyante na makabalik na sa tradisyonal na moda ng pagkatuto o face-to-face classes dahil labanan umano sa pribilehiyo ang online na moda ng pag-aaral, pati na rin ang pagpigil sa tuition and other fees increase (TOFI) para sa mga pribadong paaralan. Dagdag ni CEGP Deputy Secretary-General Regina Tolentino, nagsisilbing panakot ng estado ang mga hakbang nito tulad ng panre-red tag at pambabanta upang mailihis sa tunguhin ang mga mamamahayag pangkampus. continue to page 7
Spokesperson James Jimenez confirmed on September 29.
Jimenez said that the extension will be from October 11 to 30 during weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 to give way to the filing of certificates of candidacy on October 1 to October 8. This move came after youth groups and legislators petitioned and demanded to extend the date past the September 30 deadline in light of the quarantine restrictions and limited operations of COMELEC
offices. Youth group Kabataan, Tayo ang Pag-asa (KTAP) welcomed the decision saying, “Extending voter registration only manifests that many Filipinos want to exercise their right to vote given the inept leadership of the current administration.” Registration will still be suspended in areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). ▼
TINDIG KABATAAN Baguo-based youth and students from different schools in the city got togeteher for the Tumakder: Baguio Youth Gathering with the theme “Tayo ang Pag-asa,“ September 21.
PHOTOS CORDILLERA YOUTH CENTER
