Azusano elected 20th PUP Student Regent, returns OSR to SKM

After a month-long campaign period and a five-day adjustment to the selection calendar, PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral (SKM) President John Paul “JP” Azusano was elected as the 20th PUP Student Regent (SR) during the 26th ANAK PUP Congress on July 10, earning the mandate to represent more than 107,000 Iskolar ng Bayan in the University's Board of Regents (BoR). His election also marked the return of the Student Regent position to the PUP SKM, making him the first SKM-affiliated Student Regent since the election of 18th Student Regent Kim Modelo.

The 26th Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Konseho (ANAK) PUP Congress, held from July 8 to 10 at the PUP Hasmin Building in Manila, convened student council representatives from across the PUP System to elect a new Executive Committee and select the next SR—the sole student representative in the University's highest policymaking body.

Originally scheduled from July 3 to 5, the Congress and Student Regent selection was moved by five days after the ANAK PUP Commission on Elections partially granted a joint petition filed by the four nominees seeking an extension of the campaign period.

During the July 10 selection proceedings, Azusano presented his vision paper, "#WeAreUnstoppable," portraying the Office of the Student Regent (OSR) as an institution rooted in student activism. 

“Ang lakas ng rehente ng mga mag-aaral ay nagmumula sa militanteng tradisyon ng mga kabataang estudyante ng pamantasan na patuloy na nagsusulong sa ating karapatan, sa edukasyon at sa iba pang demokratika at karapatan, tungo sa ganap na pagbawi ng ating kinabukasan,” he stated.

The new SR’s platform centered on four priorities: securing a higher PUP budget, resisting privatization and commercialization, opposing anti-student policies and state repression, and strengthening student representation. He maintained that many of the University's persistent problems are rooted in inadequate funding, calling for "mas mataas at mas nakasasapat na budget.”

A significant portion of his presentation centered on his opposition to the proposed National Polytechnic University (NPU) Bill, which he characterized as a threat to free and accessible education. “Ang ating tindig para sa [NPU Bill]—big no para sa mga Iskolar ng Bayan,” he said, calling on the PUP community to unite against what he described as the commercialization and privatization of the university.

Azusano also underscored the need to defend student rights and democratic freedoms amid what he described as increasing attacks against student activists and organizations. “Hindi kami papatinag. Ilan man ang estudyanteng i-red-tag ninyo, ilan man ang takutin ninyo, patuloy kami sa laban para sa ating karapatan sa edukasyon,” he told delegates, while advocating for a more consultative and pro-student revision of the University's Student Handbook.

On representation, Azusano emphasized that his platform was built through consultations and campus engagements across the PUP System, rather than by a single individual. “Hindi marapat na kinuha sa hangin ang ating mga plataporma,” he said, adding that initiatives such as Campus Connect and position papers for the BoR and government agencies would help bring local student concerns into policy discussions.

Concluding his speech, Azusano linked the future of the OSR to the continuing struggle for education, democratic rights, and student welfare, declaring "Hanggang may mga Iskolar ng Bayan na pinag[ka]kaitan ng sapat na espasyo... hanggang may mga Iskolar ng Bayan na tinatakot, ni[re]-red tag... hanggang may mga Iskolar ng Bayan na pinagkakaitan ng mas mataas at mas nakasasapat na budget.”

Following the selection process, Azusano secured 24 first-preference votes to become the 20th PUP SR. He was followed by College of Communication Student Council (COC SC) President Alvinson “Alvin” Aligam with eight votes, College of Political Science and Public Administration Student Council (CPSPA SC) President Cherry Jhoana Ubani with two votes, and PUP Quezon City Supreme Student Council (SSC) President Louisze Louriel Valeroso with one vote.

Azusano's election marked the third consecutive Student Regent term secured by a council president affiliated with SAMASA-PUP, despite a year marked by controversies and criticisms directed at the alliance. The organization's dominance in student politics has faced increasing challenges in recent elections, alongside public discussions surrounding issues of governance, accountability, and internal management.

In an exclusive interview with The Communicator during the campaign period, Azusano acknowledged that SAMASA-PUP, like any political organization, has shortcomings and areas for improvement. He maintained, however, that concerns raised against the alliance had already been addressed internally and publicly clarified, emphasizing the organization's willingness to learn from criticism and undertake reforms where necessary.

Alongside the SR selection, delegates also elected the officers of the 26th ANAK PUP Executive Committee. Jubell Morilla of PUP Maragondon was elected Vice President, Abdiel Benedick Velasquez of PUP Santa Rosa as Secretary-General, John Ivan Nicolas of the PUP Institute of Technology (ITECH) as Education and Research Officer, and Danielle Santiago of the PUP Open University System (OUS) as Finance Officer.

For the cluster representative positions, Kamilah Cabra (PUP Taguig CSC) was elected to represent the NCR Cluster, Alfa Bernice Mampusti (PUP Bansud CSC) for the Cavite-Mindoro Cluster, Franz Bondeci (PUP Lopez SC) for the Quezon-Ragay Cluster, and Edwil Grae Zapata (PUP Sto. Tomas SKM) for the Laguna-Batangas Cluster.

Meanwhile, the position of Central Luzon Cluster Representative remained vacant after the cluster failed to meet the required representation threshold. Of the four eligible delegates from the cluster, only two were present at the convention, one of whom attended via a proxy.

Article: Kyan Miguel San Agustin

Graphics: Jan Mike Cabangin