PeopStrug Committee Proposal c/o Councilor Carl Santos

Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLE’S STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015 1

PEOPLE’S

STRUGGLES

COMMITTEE

Prepared by

Carl Lyndon C. Santos

USC Councilor University Student Council 2014-2015


People’s Struggles Committee Prepared by Carl Lyndon C. Santos

USC Councilor

University Student Council 2014-2015

I. VISION-MISSION

The People’s Struggles Committee envisions a University Student Council that shall remain true

to its thrust to serve the people. Thus, it shall be capable of uniting the vast studentry and the

diverse sectors of our society in forwarding and protecting our democratic rights and fighting

for genuine societal change. Furthermore, it envisions a student body that is aware of the social

issues and is able to see its parallel relationship to that of the students; imbibing the real

essence of being an Iskolar ng Bayan. As such, this committee shall provide sharp analyses on

the seemingly unending struggle of the oppressed and marginalized sectors of the society. It

shall deliver clear stances on the issues concerning the masses. More so, it shall be geared

towards promoting student involvement on pressing social issues through educational

discussions, campaigns, programs, and activities. Finally, the Committee aims to engage the

studentry with the plight of those who are oppressed through exposure and integration

programs affecting them to eventually lead the plight of the marginalized through service and

action.

II. RATIONALE: Philippine Social Realities

The Filipino people have the profound aspiration for genuine democracy and social change, as

indicated by their continuing struggle against foreign and local oppressors. The country’s

leadership, on the other hand, seems to forget its roles in safeguarding the democratic rights of

its people, upholding their interests, and fighting against the different forms of injustices.

Nevertheless, the people remain resilient and continually call for national solidarity and

responsive movements against these seemingly unending struggles.

It has been four years since the Aquino administration was sworn into office, but the conditions

of our country remain the same, if not, worse.

The Filipino people have seen during the onslaught of Yolanda how inadequate government

response and support can be. On its aftermath, clamor for all forms of sustenance coming from

the devastated public resounded in the entire archipelago, but, sadly, remained unheard.

Rehabilitation projects and programs coming from the Administration fell short of effectively


elating the lives of survivors. Instead, rampant overpricing, substandard housing, and insufficient

relief have become the face of a catastrophic country victimized by irreconcilable state neglect.

Massive corruption cases involving high-ranking government officials have been exposed by the

Pork Barrel Scam. With the advent of this phenomenon, it has become clearer to the people the

rationale behind the deficient budget allocation on the delivery of social services and access to

basic needs such as electricity, water and petroleum. This culture of plunder has led to nothing

but further commercialization services such as education, health, and housing.

While prices continue to skyrocket, there holds parallel increase in the rate of unemployment

and underemployment to which Aquino’s response is a more vibrant business climate in the

country whose primary beneficiaries are nothing else but foreign investors. The interests of

these big businesses and corporations are reassured to the detriment of the working people,

whose rights are being trampled upon as indicated by the heightened job insecurity: massive

outsourcing, wage cuts, and contractual labor.

Rural farmers and indigenous people continue to be displaced from their lands while cultural

minorities continue to be exploited in this plunder of the few. An intensified call for genuine

agrarian reform programs persists as the Aquino administration pushes forward with the

implementation of its unjust land reform projects. As a result of this anti-people policy, lands

which could have been used for food production have been converted to commercial and

private residential spaces. Adding insult to injury, recent human rights violations have been

perpetrated by state forces through harassment and militarization more glaring in the

Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita.

Countless human rights violations are still existent. Cases of extra-judicial killings, enforced

disappearances, and state-perpetrated harassment have heightened in the early part of this

year. Many political prisoners remain far from freedom. Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, to

name a few among the endless roster of desaparecidos, continue to seek vindication from being

stripped of their rights as human beings. These people who have been pacified by the state have

done nothing but defend the rights of their fellowmen; that taking the role in leading the plight

of the masses have caused them their very own lives, families and loved ones.

The plight of the youth is no different from that of the other sectors in the society. As repression

and oppression remain unbridled, every single child of this nation faces the threat of inheriting a

future where the marginalized remain underrepresented and voiceless. Education which holds to

be our greatest equalizer becomes more and more inaccessible and irrelevant. Institutions of

learning, from basic to tertiary, fail to realize the true context of present Philippine society.


The resounding call for the advancement of our democratic rights echoes beyond the four walls

of the University. As our remaining years go further than the confines of this academic

institution, it is now high time for the students to be at the forefront of the people’s struggles.

After all, these struggles are ours to take. The People’s Struggles Committee of the University

Student Council shall take another step forward, linking arms with the marginalized, moving

tirelessly for the betterment of a society who has long been lost in the depths of greed and

apathy; paving the way for genuine national sovereignty.


III. General and Specific Plans of Action

Challenging Times, Challenging the Times

Coordination with committees and student formations

The Peoples’ Struggle committee (Pipstrug committee) shall coordinate with the different USC

committees and student formations in order to build a university-wide network that will tap the

different issues of the society.

a) Community Rights and Welfare Committee: Through this committee, the Pipstrug

committee shall work closely on the issues concerning the UP community such as the safety and

security of the members of this community, transportation and other fee increases, and

demolitions and other housing concerns. It shall use this community as a tool to analyze how

the struggles are shared by the members of a community and what can be the next necessary

steps in forwarding these concerns.

b) Environmental Concerns Committee: It shall promote the University’s awareness regarding

the responsible use of natural resources and their crucial roles in the creation of local,

sustainable industries, which shall cater to the Filipino people. It shall also address the issue of

responsible and nationalist mining, alongside the issue of finding solutions to the current oil and

energy crisis.

c) Gender Committee: It shall address the issues concerning the multi-layered discrimination of

women and the LGBT sector, with particularity on the relationship of these issues with the

existing class struggle.

d) Education and Research Committee: It shall be the primary partner of the PSC in organizing

forums and educational discussions. It shall also help in conducting comprehensive researches

with regard to present prevalent sectoral issues provided with historical background and the

mass’ viewpoint.

e) Mass Media Committee: The PSC shall ensure the effective and efficient publicity of its

activities through the MMC in order to achieve maximum student participation.

f) Cause-Oriented and Community-Service Organizations: The People’s Struggles Committee

shall spearhead the creation of alliances and movements along with these organization clusters.

These alliances may be formed during specific campaigns in order to unite groups, formations,

and individuals who share the same advocacies. Thus, creating stronger calls and more

comprehensive plans of action.


Hand-in-hand, linking arms with the different sectors

The People’s Struggles Committee is geared towards the creation of a unified mass movement

involving the different sectors of the society. It shall work in close coordination with them in

order to collectively forward possible assertions and demands. Also, the PSC will hold periodic

dialogues and consultations with representatives coming from the different sectors in order to

properly monitor rising developments regarding pressing concerns. It shall also organize and

lead campaigns, together with the different sectors, in asserting their democratic rights and

common interests.

a). Farmers: The PSC shall assert for a genuine agrarian reform program. It shall conduct

educational discussions on the present situation of our farmers along with integration programs

for the students to have first-hand experience on the issues faced by the peasants in our

country.

Proposed Topic/s: Peasant Situationer

b) Workers: The PSC shall campaign for the welfare of the workers by asserting for decent work

conditions, just wages and compensations, job opportunities, and national industrialization.

Proposed Topic/s: Trade Union Situationer

c) Students and the Youth: The Committee shall campaign for the right to quality and

accessible education. Along with this, we shall also conduct multi-sectoral mobilizations calling

for higher state subsidy. It shall also provide in-depth analyses of the plethora of struggles

experienced by the youth in general especially those who are outside the confines of regular

schooling and who have been pushed at an early age to commit themselves to hard labor as a

means to earn income. Being the next generation of this nation’s leaders, the Committee will

continue to assert the youth’s participation in the decision-making processes of the various

government institutions.

Proposed Topic/s: Youth Situationer, UP Situationer

d) Women, Children, and LGBT: In coordination with the Gender Committee, the PSC shall

provide support in the efforts of conducting educational discussions and forums regarding the

pertinent issues of women, children, and the LGBT. Aimed towards the eventual eradication of a

discriminating culture, the Committee shall spearhead education campaigns which will result to

a deeper knowledge of these sectors’ rights geared towards acquiring a deeper understanding

of their struggle with which we are all part of.

Proposed Topic/s: Women Situationer, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discussion, Gender

and Culture


e) National Cultural Minorities: Giving voice to this marginalized and often unheard sector, the

committee shall campaign for the right to ancestral domain and self-determination of the

country’s cultural minorities. It shall also have an in-depth study on the ongoing peace talks in

the country and its recent developments.

Proposed Topic/s: Indigenous People Situationer, Forum on Peace Talks, Discussions on the

Bangsamoro Framework Agreement

Awareness with regard to the country’s pressing concerns:

The People’s Struggles committee shall arouse the consciousness of the students by promoting

awareness with regard to social issues through exhaustive information dissemination, issue-

based educational discussions, and periodic focused-group and room-to-room discussions.

a) In order to catch the attention of our audience, the various mediums for information

dissemination must be creative and exhaustive. Infographics and video presentations shall be

made available both online and offline. The Committee will also maximize the areas for posting

to reach a broader following and exhibits shall be mounted on various locations in the campus.

b) Educational Discussions: Thorough and in-depth discussions with the students and other

interested groups or individuals regarding the present situation in our country. The specific

topics which will be tackled shall include the present condition of the different sectors which

were mentioned above. Other topics include: National Situationer, Environmental Situationer,

Media situationer, Human Rights Situationer, Health Situationer, etc. The venue and the dates of

these periodic educational discussions are to follow.

c) Room-to-Room and Focused Group Discussions: These are quick discussions on the recent

and pressing issues concerning the masses and the developments of people’s struggles in the

country.

Launching year-long activities

Different activities will be held alongside campaigns in commemoration of milestones in the

history of the people’s struggles and the mass movement. These activities include short

programs, candle-lighting, exhibits or installments, and mass mobilizations.


Lobbying with the administration and the students

Considering that the University is of national significance, the People’s Struggles Committee

shall conduct dialogues with the administration regarding the pressing issues concerning the

masses and the marginalized sectors of the society. The concrete outcome of the said

discussions shall include position papers of the entire University on the said issues.

The University Student Council, headed by the PSC, shall also release timely statements on the

pressing social issues as stated on position papers, as well as letters calling for solidarity on the

said issues.

Exposure and Integration

The People’s Struggles Committee shall organize Basic Masses Exposure (BMEx) and Basic

Masses Integration (BMI) activities that are open not just to student leaders but also to all UP

students. Immediate areas of concern include urban poor communities, factories and picket

lines, rural areas, and farming communities. Nothing beats the concrete experience of living the

life of the masses we ought to serve.

Nationalist Fervor Instilled

The Committee shall conduct forums and consultations to discuss the current situation of

people’s struggles, and to monitor the developments on the issues. The consultations shall

include surveys with small group discussions, and dialogues with the different sectors of the

society. The forums will be held as a part of the campaigns and are aimed to plan out the

necessary actions to address the concerns of the masses. Alongside with this, mass mobilizations

will also be held for genuine student and people’s representation on the clear stances regarding

the issues. As its tool for analysis, the People’s Struggles Committee shall, at all times,

incorporate a historical perspective with a nationalist viewpoint in providing discourse to arising

issues and concerns.

Grievances Collated

The People’s Struggles Committee aims to institutionalize a system-wide Human Rights Desk by

the end of the coming academic year. Through this, grievances coming not only from students

but with the larger members of the community and concerned formations/individuals outside

the University may be entertained. This desk will be set-up in order to collect feedbacks on the

present social issues, which will be used for further analysis and studies on the issues, and to


conduct small talks and dialogues. Brochures or primers, including the stances of the USC

regarding the issues, will also be given away.

Engagement and Empowerment

The People’s Struggles Committee is a campaign and education based committee and as such, it

shall organize and facilitate campaigns that shall engage the students with the plight of those

who are oppressed, eventually empowering them to lead the plight of the marginalized through

service and action. As events and campaigns are based solely on timely issues that may arise

during the course of the coming academic year, a calendaring of activities may be difficult to

materialize. Nevertheless, some events or activities and campaigns will be based on the events

listed below:

MONTH DAY

MAY 01 – Labor Day

JUNE 12 – Independence Day

26 – Abduction of Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan

JULY SONA

AUGUST 30 – International Day of the Disappeared

21 – Ninoy Aquino Day

SEPTEMBER 21 – Martial Law Commemoration

OCTOBER Peasant Month

NOVEMBER 16 – Hacienda Luisita Massacre

17 – International Students’ Day

21 – Maguindanao Massacre

30 – Bonifacio Day

DECEMBER 10 – Human Rights Day

JANUARY First Quarter Storm Commemoration

FEBRUARY 01-09 – Diliman Commune

14 – One Billion Rising; Single Awareness Day

25 – EDSA People Power

MARCH 08 – International Women’s Day

APRIL 09 – Araw ng Kagitingan

Other projects and campaigns include the following:

a) All Rights Reserved. Intensification of human rights campaign by increased efforts in

raising awareness and participation of students and other members of the UP


community in campaigns to Surface Karen and She, Free Maricon Montajes, and End

Impunity to name a few.

b) Health! SOS! A campaign to oppose the privatization of government hospitals and

medical centers and advocate for the accessibility of healt services in the country

c) Tulong Kabataan. In partnership with the Environmental committee, this project aims to

facilitate early relief drive operations for foreseen heavy typhoons, and provide

psychosocial programs to calamity survivors, and organize post-calamity assessment

discussions and rehabilitation efforts.

d) Policy Recall. With the number of railroaded policies, safeguards such as consultations

and in-depth multi-sectoral reviews need to be put in place to ensure not just

democratic governance but also our democratic rights.

e) No FEErs. This is a price monitoring campaign to inform everyone on the different price

hikes that would be implemented. This can be extended to the regulation if not

scrapping of exorbitant equipment, facility and venue rental fees in different colleges

and in campus.

IV. Committee Structure

Duties and Functions of the Committee Officers:

Committee Head:

1. Exercise supervision over the committee.

2. Keep in touch with other committees within the USC for coordination and unification of the

plans of the committees and the other committees concerns.

3. Perform other functions as may be delegated by the USC Chairperson.

Secretary:

1. Keep record of all activities of the committee and inform the members.

2. Note all the transactions or communications released or accepted by the committee.

Committee Head

Secretary

Deputy for Campaigns

Sectoral Coordinators

Deputy for Education


3. Perform other functions delegated by the committee.

Deputy for Campaigns:

1. Ensure that activities of the committee are made known to the student body and the USC.

2. Ensure that the phase of every campaign is followed.


Deputy for Education:

1. Ensure that discussions and other venues for education are pushed through by the

committee.

2. Ensure that every member of the committee is well aware of the various issues inside and

outside the University, especially those which are tackled by the committee.


Sectoral Coordinators:

1. Provide updates from various sectors inside and outside the University regarding certain

issues and activities they may be facing or the committee is tackling.

2. Act as a means for the committee to communicate with alliances, organizations and

individuals.

3. Perform other functions delegated by the committee

Documents

PeopStrug Committee Proposal c/o Councilor Carl Santos