[6/7] 𝗜𝗡-𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗛 | 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮

𝗣𝗨𝗣 𝗖𝗢𝗖 𝗦𝗖 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗢𝗖𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀' 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝟮𝗙 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀

Following the University President Muhi's announcement about the resumption of face-to-face classes for the second semester A.Y. 2022-2023 on December 5, 2022, the PUP College of Communication Student Council (COC SC) released sensing form on December 12, 2022 that aims to know the COCians' initial state of readiness for the aforementioned shift in modality,

According to PUP COC SC, the result of the said sensing form was submitted to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) for their perusal in crafting the guidelines. The data were collected from the COC students between December 13 and 21, 2022, with a total of 2,292 responses. Based on the result that was posted on January 5, 151 students are holistically prepared, 318 students are concerned about their employment conditions, 330 students are financially incapable, and 1,493 students are still not prepared until the university guidelines are announced. In connection with this, the COC SC released another comprehensive sensing mechanism on January 10 that lasted until February 13 which gathered a total of 1,926 responses. According to the data gathered, there are 581 students working, 251 working full-time, 152 working part-time, and 178 students are working freelance. While 1,099 students are residing in the National Capital Region (NCR) and 827 students live outside the NCR. Additionally, the result revealed that 299 students are holistically ready, 833 students are ready but have to consider other things, and 195 students encounter financial constraints. The data also shows that 521 COCians are still not prepared until the university guidelines are announced while 78 COCians are not yet ready to return for the in-person classes. Aside from this, the student council also partnered with R4E PUP COC for the COMMsultations titled, "What We Need: COMMsolidated Action for LBE!," a series of consultations for the Bantay Balik-COC that started from January 22 until February 4. After a series of meetings and assessments of COCians' current situation, the COC SC created 9-point COC Balik-Eskwela Demands on February 11 which are as follows:

Demands on PUP Administration 1. Issue comprehensive face-to-face guidelines to give the PUPians time to prepare. Implement the PUP LBE Policy Proposal. 2. Prepare the campus facilities and equipment and make them conducive to student learning. 3. Return the academic ease as an adjustment to physical and online activities caused by the implementation of blended and cyclical learning. 4. Give consideration to the working students and ensure that no one is left behind in the university. 5. Make sure that the health protocols within the university are properly followed. Issue clear guidelines on sanitation and safety. Demands on Marcos-Duterte Administration 1. Transfer the funds that the government is wasting on the military and NTF-ELCAC to the education sector to prepare for a truly safe return to school.

2. Give proper and fair wages to workers, professors, and other staff within the university. 3. Allocate funds to aid professors and students in support of their studies. 4. Do not prioritize militarization and any program that will interfere with the safety of students inside and outside the university. With this, the PUP COC SC physically submitted the 9-point COC Balik-Eskwela Demands to the OVPAA on February 15 for the call of #WeNeedGenuineReCOMMnection together with 44 sections and 15 organizations. “Sabik ang mga kabataang alagad ng midya sa ligtas na pagbabalik-eskwela. Mula 2020 hanggang sa kasalukuyang taon, panawagan na ng mga COCians ang tunay na ligtas na pagbabalik-pamantasan, kaakibat ang ayuda bilang tulong para sa kanila at hanapbuhay habang hindi sinasangkalan ang kalusugan ng kanilang pamilya. Malinaw na ipinagkait ito ng nakaraang administrasyong Duterte sa mga iskolar ng bayan at nagpapatuloy ito sa kasalukuyang administrasyong Marcos Jr.,” the student council stated in their paper. Moreover, on February 23, the council submitted the results of the comprehensive sensing form to COC Administration and then held a dialogue with COC Dean Hemmady Mora on February 27 wherein they discussed some clarifications on the guidelines of the upcoming face-to-face classes and the current preparations being made by the faculty. "Nakakaisa naman natin si Dean [Mora] sa mga panawagan natin lalo na sa 9-point COC balik-eskwela demands. Nakuha rin naman natin ang commitment na lagi silang bukas sa pag-uusap at paglilinaw kung mayroon mang concerns. Pero walang partikular na sinabi si dean mula sa inilatag nating demands," PUP COC SC President Ronjay Mendiola asserted. Council President Mendiola also added that the COC Administration will consider the results of the sensing forms as a foundation to have comprehensive guidelines for the upcoming in-person classes this second semester. "Patuloy na pagbabantayan natin ang balik-eskwela. Mayroon tayong Bantay Balik-COC Network na makakatuwang natin sa pagtitiyak na ligtas tayong makakabalik sa pamantasan," Mendiola affirmed to COCians. Last March 8, as part of the 9-Point COC Balik-Eskwela Demands, PUP COC SC announced that Demand No. 2, which is to prepare the campus facilities and equipment and make them conducive to student learning, will begin this March 13 to April 7. The COC Administration will start to attach internet cable wires along the COC Campus as part of the conducive learning of the COCians in the upcoming face-to-face sessions. "Kinikilala natin bilang inisyal na tagumpay ito sa point no. 2 ng ating 9-point COC Balik-Eskwela Demands. Hindi pa rito nagtatapos ang ating laban sa pagtitiyak na ligtas tayong makababalik sa ating pamantasan!" as the council stated in their post.

Article: Joseph Villena, Janelle Liong, & Rhoze Ann Abog

Graphics: Aldreich Pascual, Cathlyn de Raya, & Hannah May Manalo