By Ivan Anthony D. Sapio, BA Comm-4 OJT

CAS Provincial Board holds their legislative session via Google Meet with CAS students.

Central Philippine University’s (CPU) College of Arts and Science Provincial Council (CASPC) held their 20th Regular Legislative Session entitled Pulong CASimanwa open to public via Google Meet last March 11, 2022. The objective is to uphold their Transparency and Accountability Program for the College of Arts and Sciences students.

Four resolutions were discussed in their first public legislative session. Authored by Board Member Jennifer Erika Angeles, Resolution No. 74, which focuses on the implementation of literary competitions such as extemporaneous speaking, binalaybay, and declamation, aims to recognize talents of every CAS student in the field of literary speech. The literary speech competition entitled Sugid will be launched from March 21 to April 9. The said resolution is co-authored by Board Member Collyn Maxie Rose Moscoso and sponsored by Board Member Glory Fe N. De La Cruz.

On March 19, under the Resolution No. 75, the CASPC – League of Organization Presidents will partner with The Beneficent Hands Inc. for an outreach project in Pototan, Iloilo. The said resolution upholds the establishment and operation of student organizations to become active partners in the pursuit of local autonomy. Resolution No. 75 is authored by Board Member Jay-F David and sponsored by Board Member Moscoso.

The CASPC also discussed the appointment of their new general secretary, Ms. Ma Trini De Ocampo, under Resolution No. 76, for the A.Y. 2021-2022 second semester, following the resignation of the previous general secretary, Ms. Leah Dayal. The said resolution is authored by Board Member Maria Divhina Alyssa Yasay and sponsored by Board Member David. CASPC also implemented the collection of the student council fee for the second semester of A.Y. 2021-2022 amounting to Php80.00 for the CAS under Resolution No. 73.

According to Iana Lexlee Cogollo, Vice Governor of CASPC, holding legislative sessions in public is vital as it allows democracy to thrive and allows citizens to participate.

“I adhere to the principle that ‘Public Office is a Public Trust’. Therefore, the policies and regulations that we impose on our people concern the public interest since they are the ones who will benefit. As a result, they must be informed and be able to engage in the discussion and deliberation that goes into crafting a resolution, ordinance, or policy,” Cogollo added.

Cogollo also said that they hold their legislative sessions publicly, mainly for transparency and accountability, as it ensures the students that the initiatives and projects initiated for them were properly assessed and evaluated and was not a result of an impulsive decision.

According to Board Member David who authored Pulong CASimanwa, they have been aiming for a more transparent CASPC for this academic year, hence the authorship of a resolution establishing Pulong CASimanwa for their transparency and accountability program.

Pulong CASimanwa is effective for the whole 2nd Semester of the A.Y. 2021-2022. The provincial board will be inviting all CAS students monthly for the Regular Legislative Meeting through Google Meet.