Aabot sa 35 puwesto ng mga manininda sa UP Wet and Dry Market sa Philcoa ang giniba at apat ang napaulat na malubhang nasaktan sa demolisyong isinagawa ng Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) dito noong Marso 5.

Nagbarikada ang mga manininda ng kabuuang 70 puwesto sa palengke, kasama ang mga organisasyong Kadamay at Anakbayan, sa pagdating ng limang trak, na tinatayang naglulan sa may 300 miyembro ng MMDA, at aabot sa 50 pulis ng Quezon City Police District.

Ayon kay Bobby Esquivel, hepe ng Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group ng MMDA, giniba ang bahagi ng palengke dahil sa proyektong pagpapalawak ng Commonwealth Avenue. Aniya, hindi na rin umano kailangan ng court order para isagawa ang demolisyon dahil ito ay nasa “road right of way.”

Pinigil ng Task Force on Squatting Communities and Housing Utilities ng UP ang paggiba sa buong palengke, ngunit hindi umano sila pinakinggan ng MMDA dahil ipinag-utos na umano ni Bayani Fernando, tagapangulo ng MMDA, ayon kay Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Cynthia Grace Gregorio.

Ani Gregorio, walang paunang sabi ang MMDA sa UP hinggil sa isasagawang demolisyon, at kalahati lamang umano ng palengke ang gigibain, sang-ayon sa pag-uusap ng UP at ni Cora Cruz, assistant general manager ng MMDA.

Nauna nang ibinalita na nagpadala ng eviction letter ang UP sa mga manininda noong Enero 16 upang kusang bakantehin ng mga manininda ang istruktura sa loob ng tatlong araw.

Ayon kay Heidi Mañoza, tagapag-ugnay ng Pinag-isang Manininda ng Philcoa Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PMPMC), kinagabihan lamang ng Marso 4 ipinagbigay-alam ni Esquivel ang demolisyong gagawin sa palengke. Hiniling nila umano na bigyan sila ng tatlong araw upang maiatras ang mga stall, ngunit hindi sila pinayagan, dagdag ni Mañoza.

Nauna nang nagpahayag ng pagtutol sa demolisyon ang mga manininda dahil sa kawalan ng plano para sa kanilang relokasyon. Gayundin, pinuna ng mga manininda ang hindi pagsama sa mga gusali ng Development Bank of the Philippines, LandBank at Petron, na pawang kahilera ng palengke sa kahabaan ng Commonwealth.

Isinugod sa East Avenue Medical Center ang mga nasaktan na pawang sa ulo tinamaan ng mga gamit ng MMDA sa demolisyon.

Depensa ni Esquivel, makikipag-usap muna sana sa mga manininda ang MMDA hinggil sa mga stall na uunahin. Ngunit, aniya, agad nanlaban ang mga manininda at miyembro ng iba’t ibang organisasyon, kaya “minabilis” na nila ang kanilang trabaho.

Ilang manininda rin ang nag-ulat na ninakawan ng mga kagamitan at pera, kasabay ng paggiba sa kanilang mga puwesto, ayon kay Estrella Ugalino, miyembro ng PMPMC. Aniya, tinanggal din ng MMDA ang mga wire at mga metro ng kuryente.

“Tatayo ulit kami,” ani Laguezma, kasabay ang hiling na makapagsimula muli ang operasyon ng mga manininda sa mga susunod na araw.

Ayon kay Gregorio, hahayaan ng administrasyon ng UP na patuloy na gamitin ng mga manininda ang natitirang mga stall. Kasama, aniya, sa usapan ng UP at MMDA ang pagsagot ng MMDA sa pagsasaayos sa natirang parte ng palengke na naapektuhan din ng demolisyon.

Ngunit ayon sa PMPMC, hindi sapat ang natirang espasyo upang mapaglaanan ng lugar ang humigit-kumulang 35 manininda. # Philippine Collegian

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Incumbent UP Diliman (UPD) Chancellor Sergio Cao was chosen to serve for another three years in office, despite earning sectoral criticisms against his leadership in his first term.

During a special executive session on February 29, the Board of Regents (BOR), UP’s highest decision-making body, selected Cao over former Vice President for Academic Affairs Ma. Serena Diokno through a voting by secret ballots. Through a single round of votation, the BOR decided “to give its unanimous vote to Chancellor Cao,” said Student Regent Shahana Abdulwahid.

Rainer Sindayen, student representative to the chancellor search committee, however, said that the committee report submitted to President Emerlinda Roman painted a “bad light” against Cao’s leadership based on the results of sectoral consultations with the students, faculty membersm, and administrative personnel.

“Cao and Diokno somehow have similar programs for the students. The advantage of Chancellor Cao is that he serves as incumbent chancellor and knows the problems of the unit,” said Abdulwahid.

Sectoral criticisms vs Cao
Among the criticisms made by the sectors on Cao’s administration were the long bureaucratic processes, fewer programs for the advancement of student’s welfare, ambiguous classification of research, extension and professional staff (REPS) as “administrative staff,” and fewer employment opportunities for administrative employees, said Sindayen.

The search committee, which functions as a consultative body, commented that the current programs of Chancellor Cao are geared more towards contributing to the welfare of the faculty, rather than equally addressing the needs of other sectors such as the students, REPS and administrative employees, Sindayen said.

Meanwhile, Cao was credited for the creation of doctoral incentives and sick leaves for faculty, and the adoption of the new admissions policy which emphasizes “excellence over equity.”

Sindayen lamented that the BOR “categorically” discards the grievances of the sectors, as the appointing body has ignored the results of the consultations, the sole mechanism for the sectors’ representation in the selection process. He recommended that UP communities also be consulted as they are a “majority sector” in UPD and face perennial demolition woes.

Calls for more democratic consultation
Meanwhile, Prof. Melania Abad, chair of the All UP Academic Employees Union-Diliman, and Clodualdo Cabrera, national president of the All UP Workers Union, both urged Cao to institutionalize a democratic consultation mechanism that will ensure multi-sectoral representation in UPD committees which handle policy matters.

Abdulwahid likewise said, “It will be a challenge to Chancellor Cao to ensure that his vision-mission will materialize.” Abdulwahid asked Cao to address the problems of limited student housing and lack of facilities for student use.

Cabrera also urged Cao to utilize UP’s idle assets to build adequate public housing, improve non-wage benefits for UP employees and provide transportation services for employees who live outside the campus. He added that Cao should stand against the UP System administration’s commercialization policies, and privatization and contractualization schemes.

Abad also demanded Cao to reinforce the role of UP as social critique by allowing the university to take an institutional stand on national issues.# Philippine Collegian

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Different sectors of UP joined the calls to oust Gloria Arroyo from presidency, and expressed their “outrage and disgust” over the “morally bankrupt regime.”

In separate statements, the University Student Council (USC), All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) and All UP Workers Union (AUPWU) “condemned” the Arroyo government and asked her to relinquish the presidency.

The UP Diliman University Council, composed of professors, earlier released a unanimously approved statement on February 27 saying that “Arroyo has no basis to continue in office.”

On February 29, about 500 students, faculty and staff joined the protest action for “truth, justice and change” in Ayala, Makati where crowd was pegged at 50,000 to 75,000.

The “interfaith rally” according to Renato Reyes Jr., secretary-general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), is the “strongest rejection yet of Arroyo” since the national broadband network (NBN) project controversy broke out.

Reyes agreed with former President Cory Aquino that there is a “long way to go” before generating the critical mass needed for another “people power,” but he said, “It is indeed a big boost in the fight to remove the morally bankrupt Arroyo regime.”

Bayan Chair Carol Araullo added in a statement that “the real strength comes from the people’s unrelenting resolve to achieve truth and justice and their collective action to bring about regime change.”

The militant alliance Gabriela said protest actions against the Arroyo regime’s desperate grip on power will be held in commemoration of the International Women's Day on March 8.

‘No moral ascendancy’
The USC, along with 49 other university student councils, student publications, and militant organizations, expressed that “the government has lost its moral ascendancy to govern due to the long list of scandals, electoral fraud and corruption issues.”

The signatories under the umbrella group Youth for Accountability and Truth Now condemned Arroyo and her family’s “attempted cover-up” of the “numerous issues of bribery and corruption and other shady deals of government,” “the gross and systematic plunder of the country’s coffers and resources for the benefit of a few,” and Arroyo’s “shameless disregard of the intensity and effects of such allegations.”

“The government’s desperate efforts to continuously cling to power have sown deep social discontent and division among the people,” the alliance added.

AUPWU said in a statement, “Habang tumatagal ay lalo [lamang] dinudungisan [ni Arroyo] ang dangal ng pampublikong serbisyo. Pinaiigting ng [kontrobersiya sa NBN] ang katotohanang may mga elemento sa lipunan na ginagawang negosyo ang dapat ay tapat at taus-pusong paglilingkod sa sambayanan.”

Meanwhile, College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) President Jose Cosido called on the youth to play the role in exposing the truth behind the “lies, dishonesty, and corruption” of the Arroyo regime.

“The continued plunder of the nation’s wealth truly imperils the future of the young Filipinos,” CEGP said in a statement.

‘Rotten government’
AUPAEU said in a statement that the “rottenness of this government cannot be concealed any longer even from those who refuse to be involved.” The government, they added, “negates all the values of principles and integrity that we assiduously teach our students.”

“Arroyo, besides being an illegitimate president, is an intellectual pretender who boasts of economic success, with dubious statistics, while the majority classes are mired in misery and hunger,” the faculty union said.

Meanwhile, AUPWU President Clodualdo Cabrera, said that of the 219 who participated in their assembly meeting, 73 percent voted to call for Arroyo’s resignation.

A recent study of Pulse Asia Survey showed that 76 percent of Metro Manila residents distrust Arroyo. Of the 300 respondents interviewed from February 21 to 24, 97 percent said they are aware of the NBN controversy.
# Philippine Collegian

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Napagwagian ng Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) ang inakamaraming puwesto sa University Student Council (USC) laban sa Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katuwiran at Kaunlaran (ALYANSA), Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (KAISA), at mga independiyenteng kandidato sa halalan noong Marso 4.

Nakuha naman ng ALYANSA mula sa STAND UP ang dalawang taong liderato sa panguluhan ng USC. Tumanggap ng 3,570 boto si Herminio Bagro III, na mas mataasng 660 boto kay Stephanie Marie Tan ng KAISA, at ng 670 boto kay Jerrie Abella ng STAND UP.

Inihalal ng 3,310 botante si Airah Cadiogan ng STAND UP bilang susunod na pangalawang tagapangulo ng konseho. Nakakuha naman ng 3,222 boto si Titus Tan ng KAISA at ng 2,757 si Marian Angelica Panganiban ng ALYANSA.

Naipanalo rin ng STAND UP ang 7 sa 12 puwesto para sa konsehal, samantalang napagwagian ng ALYANSA ang 5 at ng independiyente ang 1 puwesto sa konseho. (sumangguni sa sidebar)

Mula sa ALYANSA ang pito sa19 na kinatawan ng mga kolehiyosa USC, anim mula sa STAND UP, lima mula sa KAISA, at isang independiyente. Sa kabuuan, 2 puwesto sa USC ang napunta sa mga independiyente, 5 sa KAISA, 13 sa ALYANSA, at 14 sa STAND UP.

Protesta sa eleksyon
Kasalukuyan namang nakabinbin ang election protest sa University Student Electoral Tribunal (USET) na inihain ng STAND UP kaugnay ng “iregularidad” sa canvassing sa College of Engineering (CE) kung saan 1,901 mag-aaral ang bumoto. Nakasaad sa protesta na pinalabas umano ng College Student Electoral Board (CSEB) ng CE ang mga poll watcher habang nagaganap ang pagtutuos ng boto sa opisina ng College Secretary.

Ngunit ani Professor Adrian Alcayde, assistant college secretary ng CE, pinalabas niya ang mga tao dahil may pulong pa sila at marami na rin ang tao sa kanilang opisina, na hindi umano isang “public place.” Nahuli rin umano ang bilangan dahil sa “verification” at paghihintay ng resulta mula sa College of Science at sa Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

Ayon sa sulat-protesta ng STAND UP, “ While the automation of the elections is a positive step towards a more efficient election process, it must still be subject to the most rudimentary mechanisms for transparency.”

Dagdag dito, humihingi ang partido ng paliwanag mula sa CE kung bakit hindi nito pinapasok ang mga poll watcher at kinatawan ng mga kandidato sa bilangan ng boto. Hinihingi rin ng STAND UP ang master list mga botante sa CE para umano maihambing ito sa mga botanteng narehistro sa software na ginamit.

Samantala, habang isinusulat ang balitang ito, nakatakda pang resolbahin ng CSEB ng College of Social Work and Community Development ang tie sa pagitan ng dalawang kandidato sa pagkakinatawan ng kolehiyo.

Mababang voters’ turn out
Naitala namang 45.91 porsyento ng kabuuang bilang ng estudyante ang bumoto ngayong taon, na tumaas ng 0.70 puntos mula sa 45.21 porsyento noong nakaraang halalan. Sa tala ng Collegian, lumalabas na sa nakalipas na 12 halalan, dalawa lamang sa bawat limang estudyante ang bumoboto.

Mula sa 26 na yunit sa Diliman na may 22,148 botante, naitalang may pinakamataas na bilang ng bumoto sa School of Economics kung saan 73.4 porsyento ang lumahok sa halalan; Asian Institute of Tourism, 67.6 porsyento; School of Statistics (Stat), 63.3 porsyento; at College of Architecture, 60.96 porsyento.

Samantala, nagtala ng pinakamababang bilang ng bumoto ang Asian Center, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, School of Urban and Regional Planning at Islamic Studies. Bumaba naman ng 2.66 porsyento ang bilang ng mga bumoto sa CE, na isa sa limang kolehiyong gumamit ng sistemang automated para sa halalan. Kabilang sa mga gumamit ng automated ballots ang Stat, School of Library and Information Science, at mga kolehiyo ng Business Administration, at Mass Communication.

‘Dirtiest elections’
Ani Student Regent Shahana Abdulwahid, na kasalukuyan dingtagapangulo ng USC, “pinakamarumi” ang nagdaang halalan dahil sa mga paninira at sa paggamit sa pangalan ng konseho para sa interes ng iilan.

Nakasaad sa bukas na liham na inilabas nina Abdulwahid at 13 iba pang miyembro ng USC noong Marso 2, “We are disappointed because attacks reflect ‘self-interests.’ These interests are the very thing that hampers the USC from acting together to serve the students and the people.”

“We are disappointed because some of our colleagues are sending the message that collective action means little or nothing. They are reducing the efforts of many to the triumphs of a few. It must be emphasized that no single party or individual can claim any project or activity of the USC,” dagdag nila.

Ayon kay Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Elizabeth Enriquez, nagkaroon man ng kaunting problema sa nagdaang halalan, maituturing umano itong “matagumpay.” Tumanggi naman siyang magkomento dahil hindi umano niya alam kung sino ang tinutukoy nito.# Philippine Collegian

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UP emerged third placer in the 70th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), garnering a total of 239 points and participating in all fifteen events.

The University of Santo Tomas bagged the first place with 321, while the Far Eastern University, which participated in ten events, secured the second spot with only a point lead over UP.

The UP men's swimming team in its fifth time straight win stroke another gold while the UP Judo Team still dominated as the men and women's divisions got their second and third time golds in the event. The UP Softball team also won first place via sweep in the ten games played.

While UP placed second in the last UAAP season, UP Diliman Varsity Director Edwin Barber said their campaign this season was still successful as UP athletes were competitive in all the events they participated in. Barber added they are getting ready to vie for championship next season, which UP will host.

UP athletes need facilities, support
"UP players performed well despite the limitations like lack of facilities and financial support from the administration," said Barber.

Men's volleyball Coach Vip Isada said having only one gymnasium to be shared by the regular students and the 26 teams under the varsity program is a main problem of the athletes.

"The gym UP was donated by the Americans early 1950s yet no improvement has been made since then," said Isada. He stressed the need to fix the gym, especially the leaking roof during the rainy season.

Barber added that UP athletes also need a better physical conditioning area. He said the weights room at the College of Human Kinetics (CHK) is used not only by the athletes but also by other UP students, which decreases the athlete's training time.

According to Barber, medical tapes used for injuries are only given to teams in season and are still subjected for request. Medical reimbursement to injured athletes is also limited, he said.

Judo team member Francesca Guevarra said athletic supplies are not available to players not lined-up for the event. She added, "The only service bus we have has malfunctioned and the mats we are using are already obsolete."

While athletes get support from the CHK, softball coach Francis Diaz said they need food subsidy and a housing facility. "Like in [softball], the bulk of players comes from the not so economically stable; it will help a lot if they get such subsidy."

For a season, UP players receive P3,000 for practice allowance, or P50 per day, and P1,600 for game allowance.

Diaz suggested that academic support for the athletes be institutionalized, as in the Diliman Learning Resource Center, to help players cope with their studies.

"Hopefully, the whole UP community supports all the games in the UAAP and break away from the notion that if UP lose basketball, UP loses in the UAAP," said swimming team member Jasper Laguitao.# Philippine Collegian

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Suarez garnered an aggregate score of 86.00 percent, beating seven other examinees. Suarez also obtained the highest scores in editorial writing with 63.00 percent and in news writing with 17.00 percent.

Collegian Associate Editor Frank Lloyd Tiongson ranked second with a score of 83.40 percent, followed by law student Ryan Oliva with a score of 76.60 percent. Collegian feature writers Jan Marcel Ragaza with a score of 74.40 percent, and Ma. Rosa Cer dela Cruz, 72.80 percent, came in at fourth and fifth place. (See editorials on page 6)

Tiongson gained the highest score for page design with 9.20 percent.

The overall score covers 70 percent for editorial writing, 20 percent for news writing, and 10 percent for page design. For this year, the theme for the editorial was “The prospects and implications on the Philippines of an Obama win in the November 2008 United States (US) Elections.”

In her editorial entitled “Balance of Power,” Suarez wrote of the probable repercussions of US Senator Barack Obama’s ascent to presidency on the spate of killings under Gloria Arroyo’s term, the constant hike of oil prices, and the Philippine economy and US trade policy.

“Inevitably, Obama shall be staunch and uncompromising in his protection of American interests. Thus, Filipinos must be equally staunch, equally uncompromising, in pushing for our own development,” Suarez wrote.

In an interview, Suarez said that the Collegian under her term would continue its “tradition of critical dissent as an alternative publication.” Suarez added that the publication should intensify its “pro-student and pro-masses stance” as “re-affirmation of the core values of UP in its centennial.”

The Board of Judges of the editorial examination was composed of College of Mass Communication (CMC) Dean Elena Pernia as chair, faculty members Marichu Lambino from CMC and Victor Emmanuel Nadera Jr. from the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), and students Sierra Mae Paraan from CAL and Federico Carlo Magno Hipol from the School of Economics.# Philippine Collegian

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