University of the Philippines’ offices of the student regent, faculty regent, and staff regent have established the UP Against Charter Change (UPACC) Coalition, a campaign center for all efforts and initiatives to oppose constitutional amendments. Michael Delizo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA – Leaders of the University of the Philippines (UP) community on Saturday announced the establishment of a coalition that will serve as a system-wide and multi-sectoral campaign center for efforts and initiatives to oppose the amendments in the country’s constitution.

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 The university’s offices of the student regent, faculty regent, and staff regent spearheaded the establishment of UP Against Charter Change (UPACC) coalition that will conduct education drives, bawi-pirma campaigns, legal actions, among other activities to oppose the Charter-change (Cha-cha) push.

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 Carl Marc Ramoya of Faculty Regent of UP System said the efforts to allow foreign ownership of educational institutions in the Philippines will only complicate the issues in the sector.

 “Sa halip na Cha-cha ay seryosohin nito ‘yong mga reporma sa sektor ng edukasyon – ‘yong pagbibigay ng hindi lamang sapat na budget kundi ‘yong budget para sa modernisasyon ng mga paaralan, mga imprastraktura, mga kagamitan, budget para sa hinihilig na pagtaas sa suweldo ng mga guro at iba pang kawani sa sektor ng edukasyon,” Ramoya said.

 In a seperate interview on Teleradyo on Saturday, House Deputy Speaker David Suarez said Cha-cha can unlock the doors for foreign educational institutions and other business investors to come to the Philippines and offer opportunities.

 “We want foreign schools to come into the Philippines and to put up education institutions here. Why cannot we have a Harvard Philippines here? Why cannot we have an Oxford Philippines here? An MIT branch in the Philippines? Because the constitution restricts it,” Suarez said. 

 PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION

 The UPACC was launched ahead of the commemoration of the People Power Revolution anniversary on Sunday, which led to the restoration of democracy in the Philippines and for the creation of the 1987 Constitution. 

UP System Student Regent Sofia Jan Trinidad said several groups from the university will join the mass mobilizations to commemorate the 1986 uprising of Filipinos. 

“Kahit hindi declared as holiday ‘yong February 25, it would be a great disservice to the martyrs of EDSA in 1986 na hindi ipagpatuloy ‘yong kanilang militanteng legasiya dahil in these very halls in UP, across the system ay napakarami pong naging pagkilos na mahalaga sa pag-forward natin sa tunay na demokrasya at hustisya sa sambayananang Pilipino,” she said.

Ramoya, on the other hand, said the People Power Revolution is a symbol of the public’s power to form opinions and decide on a number of issues.

 “Hindi lamang historical ‘yong EDSA, kundi pagkilala na ang mamamayan ang mapagpasya lalo na sa usapin ng pamahahala at anong klase ng pagbabago at reporma ang nais o kailangan nila,” he said.

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