STRAW Coalition meets with Rep. Angara; Acquires Deputy Speaker Tañada's co-authorship

TOP SCHOOLS GO TO CONGRESS FOR THE 
STUDENTS’ RIGHTS AND WELFARE BILL

The Coalition for Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW Coalition) recently kicked-off its lobbying efforts for the passage of House Bill No. 2190, also known as the STRAW Bill, with a meeting with Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara, Chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education.

Representatives coming from the three of the top Philippine schools attended the said meeting. Students from the University of the Philippines - Diliman, the Ateneo de Manila University, and the De La Salle University discussed the salient points of the STRAW Bill with Angara.

Mickey Eva, Vice Chairperson of the UP Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council, emphasized that “there is a great need for students’ rights and welfare to be unified in legislation since there is still rampant abuse transpiring amid the existence of constitutionally guaranteed liberties.”

“We still experience discrimination in admission to schools due to gender and other social circumstances and the curtailment of free speech and organization,” according to Eva.

Angara gave his commitment that his Committee will calendar it for a preliminary hearing once the House reconvenes after its upcoming recess. The hearing will be conducted during the latter part of the year or early next year to give room for the Committee to finalize unfinished business such as reporting out bills that were earlier tackled.

The students were also able to get Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada's signature for his co-authorship of the STRAW Bill. “This is an integral part of our lobbying—to gather the concrete support of our legislators through their co-authorship of House Bill No. 2190,” said STRAW Coalition Spokesperson Carlo Brolagda.

The Coalition plans on taking lobbying to a different level by engaging legislators using social media through its #CoAuthorTheSTRAWBill Campaign. “Deputy Speaker Tañada's co-authorship will surely jumpstart the gathering of support for the bill,” added Brolagda, “We hope that the other legislators who believe in protecting students’ rights and welfare follow suit.” ●

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MGA PANGUNAHING PAMANTASAN, 
BUMISITA SA KONGRESO PARA SA 
STUDENTS’ RIGHTS AND WELFARE BILL

Sinimulan na ng Coalition for Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW Coalition) ang kanilang kampanya upang i-lobby ang pagpapasa ng House Bill No. 2190, na mas kilala bilang STRAW Bill, sa pamamagitan ng pagdaos ng pulong kasama si Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara, Chairman ng Committee on Higher and Technical Education ng Kamara.

Dumalo ang mga kinatawan mula sa nabansagang pinakamahuhusay na pamantasan sa Pilipinas sa naturang pulong. Tinalakay ng mga mag-aaral mula sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, at De La Salle University ang mahahalagang punto ng STRAW Bill kay Angara.

Binigyang diin ni Mickey Eva, Pangalawang Pangulo ng Sangguniang Mag-aaral ng Kolehiyo ng Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiya ng UP Diliman, na “may malaking pangangailangan upang ang karapatan at kapakanan ng mga mag-aaral ay maibuklod sa isang batas dahil sa patuloy na abusong nagaganap kahit pa may mga kalayaang nakasaad na sa Konstitusyon.”

“Nararanasan pa rin natin ang diskriminasyon sa pagtanggap sa mga paaralan dahil sa kasarian at iba pang dahilan at ang pagbusal sa malayang pamamahayag at pagbubuo ng samahan,” ayon kay Eva.

Ibinigay ng Angara ang kanyang pangako na tatalakayin ng kanyang Komite ang panukalang batas kapag nakabalik na mula sa recess ang Kamara. Ang pulong ay magaganap sa dulong bahagi ng taon o sa simula ng susunod na taon upang magbigay daan sa Komite para tugunan ang iba pang nauna nang mga panukala sa adyenda nito.

Nagtagumpay rin ang mga mag-aaral na makuha ang lagda ni Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada para maging co-author ng STRAW Bill. “Isa itong integral na bahagi ng aming lobbying—ang makakuha ng kongkretong suporta mula sa mga mambabatas sa pamamagitan co-authorship ng House Bill No. 2190,” ani STRAW Coalition Spokesperson Carlo Brolagda.

Plano ng STRAW Coalition na iangat ang antas ng lobbying sa pagpukaw ng interes ng mga mambabatas gamit ang social media. Partikular na rito ang paglulunsad nila ng #CoAuthorTheSTRAWBill Campaign. “Ang pirma ni Deputy Speaker Tañada bilang co-author ay tunay na makakatulong sa pagpapalawig ng pagtataguyod ng panukalang ito,” dagdag ni Brolagda, “Nawa’y sumunod na rin ang suporta ng iba pang mga mambabatas na naniniwala sa pagtatanggol sa karapatan at kapakanan ng mga mag-aaral.” ●