PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE

Prepared by

Carl Lyndon C. Santos

USC Councilor
University Student Council 2014-2015

Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015

Peoples Struggles Committee

Prepared by Carl Lyndon C. Santos USC Councilor University Student Council 2014-2015 I. VISION-MISSION

The Peoples 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 countrys 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

Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015

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 Aquinos 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. Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015 3

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 peoples struggles. After all, these struggles are ours to take. The Peoples 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.

Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015

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 Universitys 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 Peoples 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.

Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015

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

The Peoples 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 nations leaders, the Committee will continue to assert the youths 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 Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015 6

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 countrys 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 countrys pressing concerns:

The Peoples Struggles committee shall arouse the consciousness of the students by promoting awareness with regard to social issues through exhaustive information dissemination, issuebased 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 peoples struggles in the country.

Launching year-long activities

Different activities will be held alongside campaigns in commemoration of milestones in the history of the peoples struggles and the mass movement. These activities include short programs, candle-lighting, exhibits or installments, and mass mobilizations.

Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015

Lobbying with the administration and the students

Considering that the University is of national significance, the Peoples 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 Peoples 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 peoples 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 peoples representation on the clear stances regarding the issues. As its tool for analysis, the Peoples 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 Peoples 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

Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015

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 Peoples 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 MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DAY 01 Labor Day 12 Independence Day 26 Abduction of Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan SONA 30 International Day of the Disappeared 21 Ninoy Aquino Day 21 Martial Law Commemoration Peasant Month 16 Hacienda Luisita Massacre 17 International Students Day 21 Maguindanao Massacre 30 Bonifacio Day DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY 10 Human Rights Day First Quarter Storm Commemoration 01-09 Diliman Commune 14 One Billion Rising; Single Awareness Day 25 EDSA People Power MARCH APRIL 08 International Womens Day 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 Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015 9

community in campaigns to Surface Karen and She, Free Maricon Montajes, and End Impunity to name a few. b) c) 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 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 Committee Head

Secretary Deputy for Campaigns Deputy for Education Duties and Functions of the Committee Officers: Committee Head: 1. Exercise supervision over the committee.

Sectoral Coordinators

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. Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015 10

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. 3. Perform other functions delegated by the committee. 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. 3. Perform other functions delegated 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

Carl Lyndon C. Santos | PEOPLES STRUGGLES COMMITTEE | USC 2014-2015

11