Up Student Council: Signature Campaign, Noise Barrage, Flash Mob, and Budget Cutwalk to oppose Pork Barrel

by December Belle C. Cobarde 

“Gimme Gimme Higher State Subsidy!” was the Student Council’s (SC) cry along with other UP Cebu students as they performed a flash mob, in protest against the pork barrel and the education budget cut.

With their banners, the students danced to Beanie Man’s hit single Gimme Gimme, at 12:30 noon last September 13, 2013 by the main gate of UP Cebu.

            What transpired last Friday was one of the many activities the Student Council of UP Cebu prepared in opposition to the pork barrel as well as the 1.43 billion budget cut proposal by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for school year 2014.

            SC Chairperson Jun Marr Denila points out the relation between the call for the abolishment of the pork barrel and the opposition of the budget cut. He said that the former could mean rechanneling of the funds to basic social services like education; hence, the call for higher state subsidy.

            Shaneen Bargamento, 3^rd Year Representative supports the abolishment of the pork barrel. “I want it [pork barrel] to be channeled to education, health services, and capital expenditures. We need higher state subsidy again and again because the children are the nation builders. If we have poor-minded people, we can’t progress.”

            The UP System-wide Day of Action was observed last Wednesday, September 11, 2013, where all UP units, including UP Cebu performed a protest action for the abolishment of the pork barrel. The SC visited the students of the National Training Service Program (NSTP) to conduct a comprehensive discussion on the pork barrel issue soon followed by a noise barrage. A signature campaign was also launched that same day. “Once enough signatures are gathered, they will be sent to the Office of the Student Regent, the highest student representative in the UP system”, says Denila.

            Together with the Scrap the Pork Alliance from the Office of the Student Regent, UP Cebu is set to have a Budget Cutwalk on Thursday, September 19, 2013 in protest against the 1.43B budget cut. Starting 4pm, the students will march from the Arts and Sciences Building to the Oblation Square, where the program will be held. Letters are sent to the teachers who will have classes at the time to allow students to be excused so they can participate.

            A 3^rd year Political Science major approves of the campaign of the SC because it will enable the students to become more aware of the issues. “I am for the abolishing of pork barrel because it is not clear where the money goes. There is no transparency.”

            However, a first year Fine Arts student is reluctant of the effectiveness of the SC’s programs, saying there is no short-term change for the issue. “We would have to wait until we are recognized but I am for the abolishment of the pork because the funds will be redirected to social services. That will be a huge help to the Filipinos.”

            The SC sees the importance of the issue, which is why they are encouraging other school organizations to join them in more activities related to the pork barrel and budget cut. “The Student Council is ready to help the activities of the orgs for continuous campaigning.” says Denila.