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Various education stakeholders gathered at De La Salle University (DLSU) for the Education Stakeholders Media Forum: Kilos Bayan Laban sa Kahirapan, Korapsyon, at Kawalang Pananagutan. Co-organized by the De La Salle University Committee on National Issues and Concerns (DLSU CONIC), along with the University Student Government, and the Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA), the media forum addressed the current national political crisis from the perspective of the education sector.
The forum bewailed the socioeconomic plight felt by teachers, professors, and education sector personnel, as well as the corruption in government as exposed in recent Congressional hearings, and the lack of accountability of government officials accused of crimes against the people.
DLSU President Br. Bernard Oca, FSC, delivered the opening address through a videorecorded message. He welcomed the solidarity within the education sector shown by the organizers and participants of the forum.
Dr. David Michael San Juan, professor from DLSU and lead convenor of TAMA NA, exposed in his national situation briefer the anti-people socioeconomic policies of the Marcos Jr administration and the plunder and crimes against humanity committed by former president Rodrigo Duterte and VP Sara Duterte.
“The Filipino people do not have to choose to side with either the Marcoses or the Dutertes,” said San Juan. “We can build a solidarity based on shared principles, such as socioeconomic well-being, good governance, and accountability.”
ACT Teachers Partylist former representative Antonio Tinio detailed the impeachment complaint filed by various groups before the House of Representatives and called on the audience to help counter the Marcos administration’s efforts to derail the constitutional process of demanding accountability from public officials.
Adamson University Vice President for Student Affairs Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM, Far Eastern University (FEU), St. Paul Manila President Sr. Evangeline Anastacio, SPC, former UP Faculty Regent Carl Marc Ramota, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines Chairperson Vladimer Quetua, Atty Renee Co of Kabataan Partylist, and faculty and youth leaders from the University of the Philippine Manila, Philippine Normal University, St. Scholastica’s College, and Philippine Christian University expressed support to the objectives of the gathering.
Academic leaders present staged a symbolic signing of the Unity Statement of the Education Sector against Poverty, Corruption, and Impunity, which has already gathered the support of more than 500 school administrators, professors, teachers and education support personnel nationwide. The unity statement urged members of the education sector to join the multisectoral mobilization Protestang Bayan Laban sa Kahirapan, Korapsyon at Kawalang Pananagutan at Liwasang Bonifacio on January 31 at 1 pm.
The forum ended with a brief mass action inside the DLSU campus to show the solidarity of different education stakeholders. #
