SSC Holds First Regular Session

Photo by Eloise Yuson Diaz

The University of San Carlos Supreme Student Council (SSC) held their first regular session at the SSC Downtown Campus Office on March 29, 2017, from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. The session was held to discuss urgent matters and resolutions as well as nominations for committee chairs and members. The SSC, in their promise for a collaborative council, opened the session to everyone and streamed the entire meeting in their Facebook page. President Deodatus Burgos, with Vice President Joahanna Veloso, led the session which was attended by all of the councilors.

The session started with an acknowledgment of the guests from Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, Central Visayas Network (CENVISNET), and previous councilors. Burgos officially started the session with a discussion on programs that needed urgency. Fiscal reforms, magna carta deliberations, constitutional review and convention, and committee reports clarifications were the four important things that needed to be done and prioritized.

Afterwards, the inquiry on the financial status of SSC which was discussed by ex-councilor Shannen Tan. She showed the whole body the inflows and outflows of the SSC programs last year and clarified unidentifiable losses incurred. Transfer of the signatory names for the bank accounts were also discussed and finalized by Tan.

The next agenda was the declaration of committee chairmanships. The committee heads are: Hon. Dain Dacera for Finance, Hon. Jodi Tio for Extracurricular, Hon. Niveno Ocdinaria for Complains, Grievances and Investigation, Hon. Christian Albano for Spiritual, Hon. Norch Honoridez for Public Relations, Hon. Raymart Fernandez for Research and Documentation and Hon. Joelia Lee Yu for Commission and Appointments.

The session was followed with a proposition for partnership with CENVISNET to conduct their 11^th General Assembly in the university on April 27-29, 2017. The purpose of the general assembly, as explained by Mikee Pepito, is to organize CSO consultations and dialogues. They are also planning to invite representatives from the Commission of Human Rights to conduct a dialogue on human rights. The next proposition was the reaffirmation of the commitment and affiliation of the SSC to the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines. Michael Angelo Alegre, SCAP Visayas Chair, explained the rationale of the SCAP and its purpose. The council agreed on having a special discussion to enlighten the body on SCAP.

The session was then followed by a discussion on the tuition fee increase. The council planned out potential infographics to be posted regarding frequently asked questions from the Carolinians. Campus tour from the De La Salle University – Manila, PHILSCAT Caravan, a signature campaign organized by Akbayan, and preparations for the upcoming SSC Leadership Training Seminar were among the last issues that were deliberated.

The SSC will have a special session on the next day at the Talamban Campus to accommodate suspended resolutions that were not discussed due to time constraints.