A Resolution Proposed by Coun. Mabel Sunga Acosta during February 23, 2010 Regular Session of the 15th City Council A RESOLUTION URGING THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (HEIs) IN DAVAO CITY TO CONSIDER THE APPEAL OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED) IN ALLOWING STUDENTS WITH DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS TO TAKE THEIR EXAMS WHEREAS, higher education institutions (HEIs) in the city have imposed an increase in tuition and school fees every passing school year; WHEREAS, Batas Pambansa Blg. 232 (Education Act of 1982), and Republic Act 7722 (Higher Education Act of 1994) grant the authority to the HEIs to impose these increases, subject to certain rules and regulations; WHEREAS, CHED Memo Order No. 07, Series of 2007, which amended Section 8 of CHED Memo Order No. 14, Series of 2005, further provides that any increase in the tuition and other fees in all levels to be made by private HEIs shall be subject to consultation with stakeholders and approval of the CHED; WHEREAS, it has been the practice of HEIs to proscribe students who have outstanding financial obligations with the school from taking their examinations unless and until they have fully settled their accounts; WHEREAS, due to financial constraints and because of the escalating school fees, many students often delay the payment of their towering school obligations and consequently, they are not able to take their mandatory tests on time; WHEREAS, recognizing the present economic downturn and the burden of swelling school fees to parents and students alike, CHED issued Memorandum Order No. 02 on January 22, 2010, calling to all private HEIs for flexibility in the implementation of the “No Permit, No Examination” policy or any such policy that prohibits students from taking their periodic or final examinations due to unpaid tuition and other school fees; WHEREAS, we understand that HEIs are not without reasons for the imposition of increases in the school fees, given that they have to pay the salaries of their teaching and non-teaching personnel, and for the upgrade of their facilities, among others; WHEREAS, we believe that solutions other than the “No Permit, No Examination” policy can be formed which would address both the need of the HEIs to collect payment from their students and the need of the students to take their exams in compliance with their school requirements; WHEREAS, the cost of living nowadays has soared dramatically and the cost of education has become too expensive a commodity for ordinary Filipinos; WHEREAS, it would be a tragedy when the education of our youth becomes a casualty to the economic demands of our educational institutions; WHEREFORE, premises considered, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that a resolution be passed urging the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Davao City to consider the appeal of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in allowing students with delinquent accounts to take their exams; RESOLVED FURTHER, that copies of this resolution be furnished to Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Davao Association of Colleges and Universities, the City Mayor’s Office, the City Legal Office, and to all others concerned for their information and guidance. MABEL SUNGA ACOSTA City Councilor, 1st District
A Resolution Proposed by Coun. Mabel Sunga Acosta during February 23, 2010 Regular Session of the 15th City Council THE 1ST INTERSCHOOL NEWSCASTING COMPETITION IN DAVAO CITY INTENDED TO DISCOVER AND HARNESS YOUNG TALENTS WHO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME FUTURE BROADCASTERS WHEREAS, ABS-CBN TV 4 Davao, located at located at Shrine Hills, Matina, Davao City, is a television station that is part of the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation; WHEREAS, ABS-CBN TV 4 Davao has been bringing service to the Davaoenos and the entire Davao region by broadcasting quality news and entertainment programs since the 1980’s; WHEREAS, in order to discover and harness young talents in the field of broadcasting, ABS-CBN TV 4 Davao commenced the conduct of the 1st Interschool Newscasting Competition in Davao City on November 2009, which was participated by more than 10 schools and around 400 students from all over the city; WHEREAS, the participating students were tried in their skill of delivering news in three languages, namely: English, Filipino, and Bisaya, and were judged according to the following criteria: Delivery – 35%, Pronunciation and Diction – 30%, Voice Quality – 15%, Appearance on Cam – 15% and Overall Impact – 5%; WHEREAS, on February 20, 2010, the finals of 1st Interschool Newscasting Competition was culminated at SM Davao, with Ms. Diana Grace Juaban from AdDU, declared as the Champion, Mr. Cirilo Corminal, Jr. from UM, declared as 1st Runner-up, and Ms. Christine Mae Camus from HCDC, declared as 2nd Runner-up; WHEREAS, the act of ABS-CBN TV 4 Davao of discovering young talents who have the potential to become future broadcasters, through the conduct of its 1st Interschool Newcasting Competition, is truly a laudable and commendable act; WHEREAS, this pro-active project provides a very valuable contribution in upgrading the academic skills and perspectives of the academe; WHEREAS, it also provides an important social contribution as it sends a strong message to society that professionalism and idealism in the youth can start in the university and could be furthered through journalism even after they have finished their studies; WHEREFORE, premises considered, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that a resolution be passed and approved, commending ABS-CBN TV 4 Davao for conducting the 1st Interschool Newscasting Competition in Davao City to discover and harness young talents who have the potential to become future broadcasters; RESOLVED FURTHER, that copies of this resolution be furnished to the ABS-CBN TV4 Davao, Ateneo de Davao University, Holy Cross of Davao College, University of Mindanao, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), National Union of Journalist in the Philippines (NUJP), City Mayor’s Office and all others concerned for their information and guidance. MABEL SUNGA ACOSTA Councilor, 1st District, Davao City
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING ABS-CBN TV 4 DAVAO FOR CONDUCTING
Privilege Speech of Coun. Mabel Sunga Acosta Re: NO PERMIT, NO EXAM Delivered during February 23, 2010 Regular Session of the 15th City Council Madam President, my colleagues in the City Council, friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, Maayong buntag. I rise on a personal and collective privilege to take up the “No Permit, No Exam” policy of some higher educational institutions (HEIs) in connection with the CHED Memorandum Order No. 02, issued by Mr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles, Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), last January 22, 2010. Said CHED Memo essentially appeals to HEIs for flexibility in the implementation of “No Permit, No Examination Policy” or any such policy that prohibits students from taking their periodic or final examinations due to unpaid tuition and other school fees. As a background Madam President, the provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 232 (Education Act of 1982), and Republic Act 7722 (Higher Education Act of 1994) grant the authority to the HEIs to impose increase in the tuition and other school fees, subject to rules and regulations. However,CHED Memo Order No. 07, series of 2007, which amended Section 8 of CHED Memo Order No. 14, series of 2005, provides that any increases in the tuition and other fees in all levels to be made by private HEIs shall be subject to consultation with stakeholders… and approval of the CHED. In sum, the HEIs, Madam President, can therefore increase their tuition and other school fees provided they comply with the provisions and guidelines contained under the existing laws and issuances of the CHED. It is for this reason, Madam President, why increases in tuition and other school fees have become a perennial concern of our parents and students whenever the opening of classes would come. Madam President, it is a known fact that increases in tuition and other school fees have continue to become unabated every school year. Thus, considering the economic difficulties by many of our fellow Filipinos, the yearly increases in the said school fees have obviously become too much a burden for our parents and students to bear. Generally, Madam President, due to economic hardship, many students often delay the payment of their towering school obligations. Thus, many HEIs often impose the “No Permit, No Exam Policy” to forbid students from taking their periodic or final examinations unless they pay the balances of their unpaid tuition fees and other school charges. That is precisely why, Madam President, CHED Memorandum Order No. 02, series of 2010, was issued – to provide a momentary yet welcome relief to parents and students who are financially hard-up in life. Madam President, the rationale for the issuance of Memo No. 02, series of 2010, is contained in Section 1 thereof which provides, if I may read: “Section 1. Rationale and Background The recent economic recession has greatly affected most of the countries in the world, including the Philippines, As prices in the world market rise, the cost of basic commodities and services in the country becomes prohibitive. Education is one of the basic services that are often affected in times of economic recession. Filipino families value education in view of its role in poverty alleviation and total human capital formation. The government likewise recognizes that this is vital to the attainment of the nation’s development goals. Consequently, the unabated increases in tuition and other school fees has unduly burned affected families and students enrolled in HEIs across the nation.” Madam President, we understand that our HEIs are not without reasons for the imposition of increases in the school fees. We understand that for the most part, a huge percentage of the money collected from the increases go to the salaries of the HEIs’ teaching and non-teaching personnel, and for the upgrade of the HEIs facilities. We understand that the law allows HEIs to determine their rate of tuition and other school fees, subject to rules and regulations. And the government, particularly the CHED, can only do very little to prevent the proposed increases in tuition and other school fees. CHED for the most part can only appeal to HEIs to not impose increases, postpone such increases, and in the case of CHED Memo Order No. 02, series of 2010, allow students to take their exams despite the outstanding school fees and obligations. Time has greatly changed, Madam President, and the cost of living has soared dramatically for ordinary people to afford; wages have not really increased substantially, and the cost of education has become too expensive a commodity for the ordinary Filipinos. Madam President, I feel for our parents and students, and I feel for our HEIs as well. However, I believe that education should not be deprived for financial/economic reasons alone. In this regard, Madam President, I urge our HEIs to consider the appeal of CHED in Memo Order No. 02, series of 2010, and allow students with delinquent account to take their exams. Thank you, Madam President.
Acosta: My Edsa story
By Mabel Sunga Acosta
1st Congressional District, Davao City
I WAS born and raised in Davao City, the only daughter in a brood of six. When I passed the Upcat after high school, I eagerly looked forward to UP life. And now, looking back, I know that I got more than just an interesting university life -- I became a part of world history in that uniquely Pinoy phenomenon that is "Edsa."
The "in" thing at that time was denim and "yellow" accessories. Yellow shirts with Ninoy Aquino's face, or slogans "Di ka Nag-iisa" or "Laban" signs in yellow caps, headbands, wristbands, yellow confetti in rallies, etc., all in defiance of an oppressive Marcos rule.
I remember that so many students and teachers in the Diliman campus attended rallies in and out of the university, there was only a handful seen inside the classrooms. Such that there was a memo issued advising students to indicate their preference in the grading system between the usual numerical system or just a PASS or FAIL mark. Students running for honors chose the standard numerical grading, but most of us opted for the latter. At that time, history was unfolding and was a poor second to mere academic discussion.
After a rally inside campus, we would ride a bus that would drop us at Edsa-Kamuning. Then we would walk the far stretch of the highway all the way to Ortigas, marching, singing, looking, and finally getting lost in the crowd.
There were speakers with bullhorns, sound system playing "Bayan Ko" and other rally standards, Edru Abraham and his theater group doing a street play, a businessman giving away loads of free sandwiches from inside his car ("hay naku, mabuti na lang, salamat po!" we, hungry students would mutter), street hawkers selling bottled water and junk food, vehicles honking their horns.
There were different groups of people all doing their thing -- singing, chanting slogans, praying the rosary, gawking at celebrities, holding instant reunions with friends. There was not much pagers and cellphones then, and it was a pleasant surprise to see that friends and acquaintances were also there at Edsa sea of people from different walks of life. I even saw some high school friends like Matthew Santamaria and others, despite the crowd.
People would point out to Kuh Ledesma and the Apo Hiking Society, Teddy Boy Locsin, Mayor Binay, and other politicians and celebrities, even sexy stars that I do not recognize. Truth to tell, it was more like a day street party. Despite the presence of tanks and soldiers with loaded guns at the other end of the highway and the political crisis, there was also a mardi gras-like atmosphere in the mad adrenaline rush that followed mixed emotions of defiance, fear, awe, anxiety, patriotism, recklessness, etc.
The sea of people would sometimes overflow and sometimes thin out at different times of the day, depending on rumors of violent dispersal, Marcos leaving the country, or calls for more warm bodies to come and pray as if to exorcise coming troops, etc. Despite the uncertainty of the situation and increasing tension, the indomitable Filipino spirit ignores the danger and simply breaks free, manifesting in different forms-through songs, chants, prayers, free speech, performing arts. Or just simply walks the stretch of highway, as a curious onlooker, or as defiant citizen.
I wish I had my photo taken at Edsa. But I was just a poor "probinsyana" with a meager allowance from my Kuya Danny who was starting out as a cadet engineer in Laguna. Cameras and camera phones were not in vogue among students then. Even if they were, I could not afford them on a student's allowance. Friends from the Journ Club were luckier. Snapshots of Ed Lingao in classic dark shades, together with some nuns who were praying in front of military tanks, for instance, were immortalized in newspapers and documentaries.
The people and events that unfolded reminded me of tapestry much like the Bagobo native cloth, which is created through a painstaking and backbreaking process, and requires meditation and inspiration from the gods. But the end results of which give satisfaction not only to the body but also to the soul. While there was action in Edsa, all over the country, the Filipino people including my fellow Davaoenos, also manifested their desire for freedom and peaceful change through prayer rallies, binding the nation as one. Despite the dire situation, the deeply spiritual side of us always prevails. And that's what makes the tapestry all the more unique, significant, and complete.
I am forty years old now, and an elected city councilor in the City of Davao, married to Rey, an ex-Air Force pilot who also saw action as a government troop in the several coup attempts in the succeeding Cory Administration, a far cry from the college student that I was way back when. But the fire and fervor of hope for this nation, and faith in its people remains in me. I would tell and re-tell our four children my Edsa story, hoping that history would not be forgotten but lodge in the hearts and minds of generations of Filipinos to come.
We are a talented but confused race, some say. Perhaps, the reason why the dilemma of graft and corruption, injustice, poverty, etc. still hound us. We learn the lessons of history the hard way. Nevertheless, I am glad our soul has a steadfast homing device and always finds its way back to God in any adversity. That is why Edsa happened as it did.
When I remember Edsa, I am reminded of the many reasons why I am proud to be Pinoy. As we grow as a people, I know that we shall eventually overcome all the trials and crises before us. Nobody can bind the spirit of the Filipino.
Published at Sunstar Davao (February 24, 2006 issue)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2006/02/24/oped/mabel.sunga.acosta.councilor.davao.city.html
Councilors Bolet Banal of Quezon City and Mabel Sunga Acosta of Davao City, Congressman TG Guingona of Bukidnon, and former congressman Neric Acosta, also from Bukidnon, were inaugurated last Thursday as Kaya Natin’s newest “Champions of Good Governance,” government leaders who espouse effective, ethical, empowering leadership.
The launch marked the first time that the movement espousing good governance has selected legislators to be Champions. Before yesterday, Kaya Natin had twelve Champions, all local chief executives from provinces in Luzon and Visayas.
Besides being the first lawmakers, the four newest leaders also have the distinction of being the first representatives from their region. Banal is the first Champion from Metro Manila, while Acosta, Guingona, and Sunga Acosta all hail from Mindanao.
“It is definitely good that we have these inspiring leaders from Metro Manila and Mindanao be a part of Kaya Natin. We hope that they will serve as an inspiration to many Filipinos that there is indeed much to hope for in our country despite all the negative news about our present administration that people hear about.” Harvey Keh of the ASOG and lead convenor of the group, said of the four.
Kaya Natin Co-Founder and Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio agrees. “This just goes to show that there are indeed many good people in our government, whether in the executive or legislative branch,” he commented.
The four new Kaya Natin Champions were introduced one by one by the current Champions, former mayors Baby Congco of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija and Mary Jane Ortega of San Fernando, La Union; Mayor Florante Gerdan of Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, and co-founder Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City. Sunga Acosta, Banal, Guingona, and Acosta were each given a Kaya Natin shirt and baller ID band to welcome them to the group.
“I’ve been a fan of Kaya Natin for a long time,” Banal said in his response. “These people are my idols, and I feel so blessed to be a part of their group now.”
The three other Champions echoed the same sentiment, adding their hopes that the group’s advocacy will continue to grow in all areas of government, including more legislators and more champions from all over the Philippines. After their formal induction, the new champions all signed the KN Covenant of Good Governance pledging to promote transparency, social accountability and effective delivery of basic services to their respective constituents.
With the inauguration of the four lawmakers, Kaya Natin’s Champions of Good Governance now number sixteen, and the movement shows no sign of stopping their search for outstanding, inspiring Filipino leaders. Sonia Lorenzo, also one of the co-founders of the movement and mayor of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, said in her closing statement, “We hope that we continue to build a critical mass of effective, ethical, and empowering leaders who will govern the country in the best way possible.”
For more information about Kaya Natin and its Champions of Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, please visit our website at http://www.kayanatin.com or you can contact us at (02) 4265657.
