Kalai House Council, studying participation to Manifesto of Unity Asserting Students’ Rights to Dormitories

The Kalayaan Residence Hall Association House Council is still studying its participation to the University Student Council-initiated Manifesto of Unity Asserting Students’ Right to Dormitories.

The Manifesto was discussed during the first (informal) meeting of the new set of elected House Council officers held yesterday evening.

Some of the points were raised by the quorum regarding the Manifesto are as follows:

• It is unfair if the residents sign such a Manifesto without hearing the side of the Office of the Student Housing and the Office of Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs – University-administered offices involved in the Manifesto.
• The members of the Kalayaan Residence Hall Association cannot compare the previous Rules and Regulations Governing Residence Halls in UP Diliman with the one being used now, which as claimed in the Manifesto has caused grave violations and rights and welfare of dorm residents and aspiring dorm residents, as it is their first year in the University.

With the points stated above, the House Council decided to study the Manifesto further before taking pertinent actions.
The Manifesto was given to the House Council’s Vice-Chairperson for External Affairs for discussion and support by a University Student Council during an informal assembly of different dorm representatives held at Sampaguita Residence Hall.

For a copy of the entire Manifesto, check after the jump.

Manifesto of Unity Asserting Students’ Rights to Dormitories

We, the students of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, stand firm in asserting our right to an accessible and quality lodging that is conducive for serious study and provides venue for social interaction and development. The University, being grounded on the vision of providing democratic access to quality tertiary education for the Filipino youth of different regions, should likewise give priority to the construction, rehabilitation, and admissions process of student housing. We condemn the undemocratic implementation of the 2007 and 2008 Rules and Regulations Governing Residence Halls in UP Diliman, which, within its two years of implementation, has caused grave violations to the rights and welfare of dorm residents and aspiring dorm residents. We further assert that the different concerned offices in UP Diliman give immediate attention to the evident lack of residence halls and its deteriorating state. The resolution to the problem of access shall only be achieved if additional budget and funds will be allocated for dormitories and the respective offices that operate them.

On these grounds, we are united in principle and action on the following:

• THE IMMEDIATE REVISION OF THE 2008 RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING RESIDENCE HALLS IN UP DILIMAN. Due to the implementation of the said policy without prior consultation with the affected sectors, there has been overwhelming complaints regarding the centralization of application, the pointing system, room and dormitory assignments, and other factors that afflicted the rights and welfare of students. The overwhelming complaints should be enough justification as to why the policy should be laid on the table for discussion and revised with the participation of the different affected sectors, especially the students.
• THE RECOGNITION BY THE OFFICE OF THE STUDENT HOUSING (OSH) AND THE OFFICE OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS (OVCSA) OF THE RIGHTFUL CLAIM TO PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS IN DORMITORY ISSUES AND AFFAIRS. Students have the right to be represented on matters that affect them. As in the case of the recently implemented policy, it provided no room for consultation and participation from the students. Thus, it is imperative to assert the legitimacy of House Councils and the University Student Council as representatives of dorm residents and students and that they be informed and involved in all drafting, approval, and implementation of policies concerning student housing policies.
• THAT THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS BE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE. During the implementation of the new rules and regulations, students and student-leaders have been denied of access to pertinent documents and information regarding the admissions issue. We assert that the OSH being in student service should be accountable and transparent especially when university’s stakeholders call for it.
• THAT THE OSH SHOULD FOCUS ON IMPROVING FACILITIES AND ALLOCATING RESOURCES OF DORMITORIES INSTEAD OF BURDENING ITSELF WITH THE TEDIOUS CENTRALIZED DORM ADMISSIONS PROCESS. We propose that the OSH, OVCSA, and student representatives should conduct a comprehensive study on the current state of dormitories in UP Diliman, and take appropriate action thereof. This includes lobbying and asserting for additional budget for dormitories and allocation of funds in renovation of housing facilities.

——end of manifesto——

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