PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral (SKM), together with Rise for Education Alliance - PUP (R4E-PUP), held a hybrid press conference to intensify the call for a safe return of face-to-face (F2F) classes, and to stand against mandatory ROTC and SUCs budget cuts.
Various student councils and organizations attended the said conference yesterday in PUP Charlie Del Rosario Building and via Zoom and Facebook Live.
PUP College of Political Science and Public Administration (CPSPA) SC President Joshua Aquiler pointed out that the 2023 budget cannot be considered a ”budget for prosperity”, but is a “budget for darkness”.
“Ayon sa konstitusyon natin na dapat na i-prioritize ang education system sa budget. Nakikita natin na mas lumolobo ang pondo para sa mga elemento ng estado tulad ng AFP, PNP, NTF-ELCAC… Sa katotohanan, ang ‘budget for prosperity’ ay nakatungo sa direksyon para ilagay sa panganib ang mga kabataan,” he said.
In line with this, PUP SKM Vice President and Defend PUP Main Convener Benhur Queqqegan reiterated the reasons why Defend PUP strongly opposes the mandatory ROTC.
Queqqegan mentioned six primary reasons: (1) added expenses and waste of public funds; (2) added burden to students, teachers, and parents; (3) culture of violence and corruption; (4) promotes fake nationalism; (5) threat to academic freedom; and (6) violation of domestic and international laws and conventions.
“Kung pipilitin natin ang isang mag-aaral na mag-mandatory ROTC, pinipigilan mo na rin siyang gawin iyong mga bagay na gusto niyang dapat gawin, katulad ng magpokus sa pag-aaral [at] extra-curricular,” he added.
He also stated that the country is currently facing economic, health, and education crises, but these are not the priorities of the Marcos-Duterte administration.
PUP College of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment (CADBE) SC President Jazper Recto also stated that instead of first solving the pandemic and the economic crisis, the illegitimate regime prioritize pushing the mandatory ROTC.
“Walang ibang dulot ang pagsasa-mandatory ng ROTC kundi [ang] pagpapalaganap ng utak-pulburang pag-iisip sa mga estudyante at lantarang pambabastos sa mga pamilya ng biktima ng pandarahas na dulot ng ROTC,” Recto added.
PUP SKM President and R4E-PUP Main Convener Kirchhoff Thomas Angala, the student council presidents, and representatives from different colleges also shared their insights and statements in regards to the call for the safe resumption of physical classes, and for the fight against budget cuts and mandatory ROTC.
The conference ended with announcing the future activities: Nov. 10 - Budget Briefer Discussion ng Rise for Education Alliance PUP; Nov. 11 - Black Friday Protest LBE Budget Mob; Nov. 12 - Defend PUP Roundtable Discussion on the dangers of Mandatory ROTC; and Nov. 17 - International Students’ Day National Day of Action and Unity Walk Against Mandatory ROTC.
Graphics: Cathlyn De Raya
Photo: Screenshot from PUP SKM
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