13/08/2026
๐ฆ๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ง ๐๐ข๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง | ๐ข๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น 9414 ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น 9861
The Student Council Assembly (SCA), as the highest policy-making legislative body of the University Student Council (USC) of the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), formally declares its firm opposition to House Bill No. 9414 and House Bill No. 9861. These measures propose a comprehensive charter revision declaring UEP as the National University for Sustainability Studies. This position is anchored on Article IV, Section 2 of the 2007 UEP USC Constitution, which guarantees every studentโs right to be informed and consulted before matters directly or indirectly affecting them are adopted. The SCA asserts an immutable democratic principle: if a measure is for UEP, its primary stakeholders must be heard first. Pursuant to Article IX, Section 4, the position adopted herein serves as an initial official objection pending full student consultations. Its purpose is to secure immediate legislative representation before the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education without predetermining or substituting the ultimate, verified public decision of the student body. Fulfilling the Assemblyโs initial legislative authority while safeguarding the studentsโ right to prior consultation strengthens the democratic legitimacy and moral standing of its mandate.
The SCA bases its formal opposition on seven critical and substantive grounds.
โขFirst, both bills completely deny primary stakeholder consultation, bypassing UEPโs internal deliberative bodies and directly contradicting claims of participatory governance.
โขSecond, the non-consultative filing deprives the youth of Northern Samar and future generations of a voice in shaping accessible higher education.
โขThird, conferring a national designation amounts to symbolic posturing while basic classroom conditions, laboratory facilities, and essential student services remain unresolved on the ground.
โขFourth, Sections 11 and 13 concentrate extensive corporate, financial, and administrative powers in the Board of Regents and the Office of the President without establishing robust checks or accountability mechanisms for students.
โขFifth, official public records highlight institutional readiness issues, including UEPโs continued ineligibility for the Performance-Based Bonus since 2017 and recurring COA audit deficiencies culminating in an adverse audit opinion in 2024.
โขSixth, UEPโs placement in the 1001โ1500 global band of the 2026 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings reveals a disconnect between the proposed title and current outputs.
โขSeventh, Section 22 impermissibly consolidates executive power by granting a new statutory term to the incumbent Presidentโwhose term expires in 2027โthereby bypassing the competitive Search Committee process mandated by Republic Act No. 8292.
The SCA urgently calls on the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education to defer all legislative action, committee deliberations, and approval of HB 9414 and HB 9861 until comprehensive, transparent, and documented consultations have been officially conducted across all UEP campuses and affected youth sectors. Furthermore, the SCA earnestly calls upon all Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairpersons, SK Federation Officials, Local and Provincial Youth Development Organizations, and local youth leaders across Northern Samar to stand with the UEP community through the following actions:
โขPass formal SK resolutions opposing the fast-tracking of HB 9414 and HB 9861.
โขOrganize community forums to discuss the long-term impact of this proposed charter revision on prospective tertiary students.
โขConduct independent consultations and collect signed petitions within your respective jurisdictions.
Concurrent with the opening of classes, the USC, College Student Councils (CSCs), campus publications, and student organizations are authorized and urged to launch university-wide awareness drives, educational campaigns, and comprehensive surveys free from coercion or reprisal. These actions will ensure that the final position submitted to the House of Representatives is grounded in solid data and rooted in genuine consensus. This statement does not constitute the final position of the entire student body but serves as an interim legislative position pending broader student consultation.
