THE SANGGUNIAN Central Board (CB) discussed “Manilakbayan,” a march to be done by the indigenous people from Davao who were affected by the mining industry in the area. The CB also followed up on the issue about the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (Apeco) in their meeting last November 9.
“Manilakbayan” is for the cause of the indigenous people were displaced from their homes as a result of the mining activities.
“What they want to happen is for the government to hear their plea so that the mining activities there, either legal or illegal, can be temporarily stopped,” said Sanggunian President Gio Alejo.
The march was projected to take place in December, Alejo said. He added that the CB needed to plan how to welcome these indigenous people properly as they enter the Ateneo.
Alejo further suggested that as a student government, they should be more proactive and make the students be made aware of the issue.
“[These] are the people that we should be fighting for,” he said.
Apeco follow-ups
During the meeting, Tricia Raya from the Ateneo Task Force (ATF) said that members of the ATF went to Casiguran on October 27 to 31 to know more about the people affected by the Apeco, such as the farmers, the fisherfolk and the indigenous people who live near the site.
“It is an issue about land grabbing, environmental degradation, labor issues and indigenous people’s rights. For the people of Casiguran, the development that they want is one that is relational—one that includes them as well,” Raya said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“Are the farmers, fisherfolk and indigenous people really against development?”
Raya defended these people who were against the Apeco by saying that they only want to be part of the development and that they do not want to be left out or cast aside.
“It’s not that they want to be impenetrable. They want to be engaged in that development,” she adds.
A meeting will be held on November 16 to discuss how the ATF, the Sanggunian and other organizations in the Ateneo can further help the people affected by the Apeco.
The Apeco is an industrial, commercial, financial and recreational center located in Casiguran. It was made possible by the Aurora Special Economic Zone Act of 2007.
More updates
School of Science and Engineering 4th year CB Representative Nicole Dela Cruz updated the board about the 29th Buklod Atenista Midyear Convention held at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University last October 18 to 21.
In the said convention, the framework and procedures for activating the Buklod Atenista Humanitarian Aid network were set. It is a network that the Buklod Atenista member schools can activate during disasters and calamities so that the other schools can monitor the situation and provide help.
The service learning programs also became less of a priority of Buklod Atenista because service learning has different definitions in the different member schools. It was decided that the schools would work on service learning independently.
The Ateneo Youth Agenda had also been drafted, according to Dela Cruz. The issues identified from the survey were education, environment and good governance.
Sanggunian Vice President Ian Agatep also gave an update regarding the Student Crime Prevention Council (SCPC) and the actions that the SCPC would take.
Agatep presented two action points to prevent crime in the campus: awareness and starting early.
He suggested an awareness campaign to educate the students more about what are prohibited and what are allowed inside the campus.
He emphasized that starting with the freshmen was important so that vigilance can be integrated into the Atenean culture.
Alejo also stated that the Philippines would be celebrating International Students’ Day for the first time on November 17. In line with this, a parade from the Ateneo to the University of the Philippines will be conducted.
