Addressing current challenges and concerns surrounding the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) – Main Campus, student leaders from various campus-based organizations sat down and engaged in dialogue with university key officials and administrators during the ‘Harampang with Selected Students of the University’ at the Graduate School Function Hall on Tuesday, August 27.

Said gathering was presided over by University President Dr. Dennis de Paz, along with Vice Presidents Dr. Lydia Morante, Dr. Analyn Españo, and Dr. Danilo Pulma, Student Affairs and Services Office (SASO) Director Sonia Enrile, Student Affairs Office (SAO) Head Eliditha Easter Gervacio, and Scholarship Coordinator Prof. Milbren Bato, who addressed the questions and concerns of student leaders from various organizations. Here are some of the topics raised by the student leaders and the responses from the officials during the Harampang:

𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻: 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁

Question: “Mayda nagsurat hin anonymous letter saying na gin-harass kuno hiya. I don’t know what office I should go to address the issue. So, what office should I go to?” asked Hon. Kyle C. Cardeño as he initiated the first question.

Answer: “If you encountered such a thing of incident, you might as well go directly to your college dean, or you might go as well to the Students Affairs and Services Office,” replied University President Dr. Dennis de Paz.

𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀

Question: “I have observed in CAS that we are having classes in the roof deck, and I think it’s not very inclusive to our education. Especially ‘yung Gen Ed classes namin,” a representative from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) raised his concern.

Answer: “Actually, the reason why the College of Arts and Sciences are holding classes in the roof deck is because we lack classrooms in CAS. Although I think that Dean has mentioned that nagagamit man daw it roof deck. Pero if you are uncomfortable using the roof deck, maybe you can suggest to your professor na gumamit hin iba nga venue,” responded Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lydia Morante.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗹

Question: “My former organization members figuratively settled a campus registration hostile, especially on the financial statements. So what I want to address to SASO liwat is ano an iyo process bakit nahihirapan ‘yung mga organizations in renewing the organizations?” inquired the CAS representative.

Answer: “I already talked about this during the orientation. So regarding ha financial statements or mga requirements and renewal of organizations, for clarification, you can visit the office. To address na la gihapon regarding the financial statement, siyempre kwarta ito hit organization, bibilngon talaga ito namon. Diri ito pwede nga diri kita makwestiyon labi na kun it aton registration fee naabot na hin 400 pesos,” revealed SAO Head Eliditha Easter Gervacio. Dr. Dennis de Paz expressed surprise at the fact that some organizations are requiring that amount for a registration fee, asking the organizations to stop collecting such high fees. He also ordered the SASO Director, Dr. Sonia Enrile, and SAO Head to cease allowing organizations to collect such high amounts.

𝗜𝗚𝗣 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹

Question: “Ginkwekwestiyon ko la an IGP because an Booth/Fair is a university activity nga involved an mga students. So why pa required nam magbayad hin electricity ha IGP?” SSG President Cardeño asked the president.

Answer: “That particular problem did not reach my office because last year talaga it called the attention of our IGP Director na not to collect, unless an iyo mga booth may mga rice cooker or electric fan—simply taking electricity. But, I do not remember na nag-approve ako to approve such request—to collect electricity payment for the organizations. Waray ito bayad,” asserted President de Paz.

𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺

Question: “Over the past years, there has been a lot of cases of accidents during events nangyari sa mga students. I am glad that there are ROTC officers that are there, but I also want to open, as well to other student leaders, is the addition of a student rescue team,” suggested a representative from the College of Business and Entrepreneurship (COBE).

Answer: “Being the Chairman of Boys Scout Tacloban City Council, of course I am open to that. We will consider this.,” the president responded.

𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀

Question: “Ma-request la po kami unta nga mga athletes na tagan pa po kami hin higher nga incentives. And also, during han SCUAA 2023, mayda mga teachers na diri kami ginco-consider as excused during competitions,” requested a representative from a sports-oriented organization.

Answer: “You need to report it to the office so we can address it to the VPAA. You can visit the SASO, your respective college deans to further discuss it. Because I believe you also need a holistic development, diri liwat pwede nga puro academics la,” Dr. de Paz asserted. Rex Palompon, the current executive assistant to the university president, also clarified that athletes will be given copies of the special order, stating, “You are all excused from all your classes and must be given special examinations or quizzes if you missed one. If there are faculty members who do not follow the special order of the president, please report that to the SASO or to our office immediately.”

𝗨𝗻𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗖𝗨𝗔𝗔 ‘𝟮𝟯

Question: “Mister President, mayda pa po kami concern kay an SCUAA po last year, waray la gihap po namon ka-receive an amon allowance,” the aforementioned representative added.

Answer: “If ever, bangin an issue ito dida, parang na-encounter nakon na may request coming from a director. So there might be no funds already available. May mga instances kasi na gano’n na nago-overshoot kita han aton budget for the food kasi nagca-catering tayo doon,” the president responded.

𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲

Question: “An akon po concern is the inconsistency of the dress code. Kayano po may mga student la gihap nga nagpapakasulod nga mga nagpaka-crop top or mga diri na-follow han dress code? Nagiging inside joke na la namon na ‘pag maupay kuno it legs, nakakasulod,” a College of Education (COEd) representative voiced her concern.

Answer: “Students are still required to wear proper uniforms. After discussions with student leaders, there is openness to allow LGBTQIA+ students to dress according to their gender expression, kun sa tingin mo babae ka, edi babae ka, pero of course it’s okay as long as it is not too revealing,” exclaimed Dr. de Paz.

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸

Question: “Dagdag ko la po, Mister President. Mayda kasi ako classmate nga transwoman, makapira na po hiya ginyaknan ha amon college—the College of Education—nga need daw hin short haircut para ha ira pero iginduduon niya nga ma-rerevise man daw an student handbook. So baga’t nagkakamayada hin confusion,” the COEd representative inquired.

Answer: “The problem there is nasa process pa tayo ng revision that’s why I was urging the SSG, last year pa, para ma-discuss gihap ito namon ha Academic Council kun acceptable ba ito nga iyo mga pinanpro-propose. And also, we must consider nga it DepEd is very strict in terms of hair policy liwat,” Dr. de Paz stated. In addition, SAO Head Eliditha Easter Gervacio shared the result of a survey they conducted, saying, “Based on our survey, more than half of the students want to retain the uniform policy.”

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

Question: “My first concern is the CR. I’m a third-year student already and up until now, it’s not well maintained, uncomfortable, and wala talagang optional water supply, so ayon talaga ang biggest concern, lalo na sa aming mga ladies,” voiced a representative from the DOST-ESCOLAR.

Answer: “One of the reasons why the comfort rooms in our university are not well-maintained is due to the number of students. Ang number one problem natin dito is ang water supply. Just last week, nag-ribbon cutting tayo sa ating new water system. So once fully operational na ‘yan, it aton water system will now improve and let’s see if ma-maintain liwat naton an cleanliness han aton CRs,” Dr. de Paz responded.

The gathering is part of the celebration of the university’s 20th Charter Anniversary, anchored on the theme, “One EVSU: Together towards a SMART University.”

Article by Alrey John Lacaba