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WVSU Participates in the First Iloilo Transport Summit

By Abegail G. Lapating and Ciarra Mae G. Imbang

Student Regent Hershey Geline represented West Visayas State University (WVSU) during Iloilo City’s transport summit held at University of the Philippines Visayas Little Theater, Iloilo City Campus, last  August 30, 2022, at 7:30 A.M

Organized by the Office of Iloilo City Councilor and Committee Chairman of Transportation, Atty. Sedfrey L. Cabaluna, the event aims to solicit concrete solutions and recommendations to resolve the issue surrounding the modification of jeepney routes implemented by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

The whole-day activity includes a series of presentations on the concept of the Public Vehicle Modernization Program, Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP), amendments and modifications, other sectoral presentations, team workshops, and discussions in line with the Transport System in Iloilo City.

Student Regent Hershey Geline Sumpay and WVSU USC Councilor Arlie Bosque were among the participants, and other representatives from the University of the Philippines (UPV), John B Lacson, Iloilo Science, and Technology University (ISAT U).

At the event, Sumpay raised the issue of the lack of units of public jeepney vehicles and congestion. She also urged strengthening information dissemination to all commuters and implementing a 20% discount for students. 

After the discussion, Bosque presented the collated recommendations of the student sector to the officers of LTFRB Region VI, Public Safety and Transportation Iloilo, Councilor Cabaluna, and all transport group representatives. One of the suggestions is implementing a coding system for private vehicles. 

On Facebook, Arlie Bosque expressed his gratitude towards Atty. Cabaluna. “We would like to extend our gratitude to the office of Atty. Sedfrey Cabaluna for giving the students an avenue to voice our concerns on the effects of the LPTRP implementation in the city.”

In an interview of Bombo Radyo with Councilor Atty. Cabuluna, he shared that there were over 100 attendees at the summit. Among the stakeholders are transport groups, academic institutions, commuters, and barangay officials. 

The port Summit is led by the LPTRP Technical Working Team of Iloilo City and headed by Mr. Jeck Conlu and officials. Also present at the event are partnering agencies, namely PSTMO, Transport Cooperatives/Corporations, LTO, PNP, Provincial LGU, Media Partners, Business Sectors, Academe Sectors, Private Sectors, and participants from Bacolod City. 

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WVSU Shares Best Practices in Quality Management System with MBHTE -BARMM

By Mary Angel Lou S. Tribiano and Elyn Joy B. Estimada

West Visayas State University shared its best practices in Quality Management System (QMS) with the delegation from the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). WVSU hosted the QMS Executive Session last August 11, 2022, at the university campus.

After the opening remarks of University President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz, the vice presidents, unit heads, directors, and college deans participated as resource speakers. Dr. Villaruz defined quality management and how it impacts the university. He attributed the accomplishments of the institution to sound and effective quality management.

Among the topics discussed by the resource speakers were the University Program Development, Teacher Education Program, Senior High School Implementation, Quality Assurance, Assessment, Customer Feedback Mechanism, Internal Quality Audit, Management Review, and Continuous Improvements. After the open forum moderated by Dr. Noemi B. Silva, a campus tour followed where the guests visited the College of Education, Basic Education School Laboratory, and QMS Room.

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Journal for Law Advocacy – Philippine Party-list System and Representation of Marginalized Population

WVSU Journal for Law Advocacy’s featured article for this week is written by Justin Bionat of the College of Law of the University of San Agustin. As with the first three papers we have released over the last two weeks which discussed about the interplay of electoral laws and jurisprudence, Bionat provides an in-depth analysis of the party-list system which has been increasingly used by political dynasties as a “back door entry” to secure congressional seats after exhausting their term limits.

(Click the image to access the full article)
In the fourth chapter entitled “The Philippine Party-list System and Representation of Marginalized Populations,” Bionat revisits the legislative intent behind the party-list system as illustrated in 2003 and 2009 party-list elections and notes that its true purpose is for sectoral representation, meant to promote social justice and to represent the marginalized and underprivileged sectors remain unfulfilled. Bionat proceeds with a careful examination of party-lists representatives occupying congressional seats in the 18th Congress and have principally sponsored bills in the areas of education, women, and gender, and senior citizens.
Bionat argues for the necessity of revamping the party-list system to accommodate marginalized groups. A key strategy he suggests is to improve the process of accreditation of party-lists by the COMELEC. He a observes in the recently concluded 2022 national elections some interesting party lists groups declared eligible to run such as WOW Pilipinas Partylist, MOCHA Partylist, UMA Ilonggo Partylist, Barkadahan Partylist, and SMILE Partylist. From this, he emphasizes the need to improve the party-list system which is part and parcel of our flourishing democracy of, for, and by the people.

The WVSU Journal for Law Advocacy (JLA) is an academic journal committed to the development of legal scholarship for and from the Visayas Region and Southern Philippines. In preparation of the journal’s official launch by September 23rd 2022, online versions of the seven standalone chapters will be shared to the reading public every week. For inquiries and to submit your original manuscript for publication, please email the Journal’s Executive Editor – Clyde Gacayan at [email protected] . 

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Journal for Law Advocacy – Gains and Losses in Regulating Political Dynasties

(Click the image to access the full article)

WVSU Journal for Law Advocacy is featuring its third chapter written by Clyde Gacayan entitled “No Time Runs Against Families?: Gains and losses in regulating political dynasties in the Philippines”. In this chapter, Gacayan reviews previous bills that have attempted to define political dynasties passed from the 13th to the 18th Congress of the Philippines, and notes that from at least forty-five (45) bills passed in the last seventeen (17) years, not one have passed third reading. Moreso, majority of these bills are left pending in appropriate committees where they were assigned to.

Gacayan argues that while there is sustained interest on the part of the House of Representatives and the Senate to fulfill their constitutional mandate to define and prohibit political dynasties, there is strong indication that both houses are seemingly adamant and tentative in their legislative position to pass the bill into law. Gacayan illustrates that the victory of the Marcos-Duterte tandem in the recent polls is an epitome of the continuing dominance of political dynasties – where dynasties are not only deeply entrenched but also capable of self-perpetuation admist good goverance reforms.

 

He echoes what other political scientists claim that political dynasties themselves are not only electoral concerns but are wicked problems that has undermined the quality of democracy linked to deeper poverry and underdevelopment. Gacayan concludes that while it seems that no time runs against families in the last thiry-five (35) years, there is a silver lining if one is able to look at the progress made in progressive legislation, judicial activism, and by further educating the electorate.

JLA is an academic journal  committed to development of legal scholarship for and from the Visayas Region and Southern Philippines.  The chapter is included in the Journal’s Inaugural Issue which carries the theme “Electoral Laws and the 2022 Philippine Election” containing seven carefully selected chapters that provide important legal analyses of electoral issues that limit, if not hostage, the conduct of free and fair elections in the Philippines.  In preparation of the Journal’s official launch by September 23rd 2022, advanced online copies of stand alone chapters will be shared to the reading public every Monday of the week.

A total of four more papers tackling the party-list system, election-related offenses and rules on substitution will be released online in the next 4 weeks. Thereafter, a print copy of the Journal will be made available for distribution. For inquiries, please email the Journal’s Executive Editor Clyde Gacayan at [email protected] .

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CHED hosts ASEAN’s 55th founding anniversary kickoff

by Gian Kyra A. Morones / ILLO

August 8, 2022 – CHED hosts their first hybrid virtual kick-off ceremony for ASEAN’s 55th founding anniversary. This year, ASEAN carries Cambodia’s chairmanship 2022 theme, ASEAN A.C.T. Addressing Challenges Together.

The Assistant Secretary of ASEAN Affairs, Daniel Ramos Espiritu, opened the ceremony with his welcome remarks. In his speech, Daniel Espiritu highlighted how school closures due to the pandemic interrupted the development of education. With the sudden shift in traditional learning to online education, there had been a growing digital divide among students. By October of 2020, ASEAN leaders and experts created measures to promote digital literacy and development of transferable skills among youths and children. This is to ensure that education in the region is “equitable, inclusive and future ready”. Along with distance learning strategies, maximize e-learning platforms, open educational resources, and virtual peer exchanges in order to further improve the quality of education. He noticed that, “ASEAN remains united and strong even in the face of hardships”.

“ASEAN remains united and strong even in the face of hardships.”

The event’s guest speaker, Senator Loren Legarda, mentioned her first bill in the 19th Congress, the ‘One Tablet, One Student Program’ seek to provide public schools, universities and colleges a tablet for each student for the purpose of helping them cope with the changes in their education. In coordination with CHED, Senator Legarda helped in assisting students’ education through developing laws that provide financial assistance to their education like UniFast, Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and the Enhanced Basic Education Program. She stressed that, “Filipinos, especially from lower income families, should know that they have such opportunities”. She also stated a problem concerning the young population as they face a disproportionate level of unemployment and under employment in which she hopes to address if given the chance. “It is imperative that we build a more resilient educational ecosystem”. She proposed to ramp up the skills development in education, sustainable development, gender equality and inclusivity.

SEAMEO Director, Dr. Ethel Agnes Pascua Valenzuela stated that “we must strengthen the implementation of open, flexible and distance learning” and provide more importance to distance learning. The new normal education paved the way to a reimagined new normal and hybrid higher education. This new development in learning and education must be valued and acknowledged in order to adjust and move forward with ease towards new learning modalities.

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WVSU, Florida State University conduct ABC+ project

by Gian Kyra A. Morones and Shanea Mae A. Nalaunan / ILLO

 

West Visayas State University – College of Education (WVSU-COE) held the Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension Workshop in preparation for pre-service teachers on August 8, 2022.

The event was facilitated by Florida State University (FSU), as one of the technical assistants that provide one public university in each chosen region. West Visayas State University collaborated with international experts Dr. Ana Marty and Kate Schell, literacy specialists from FSU, on pre-service teacher education to develop syllabus and instructional modules for instructors and students, and train instructors who will deliver literacy courses. Its objective is  to create courses that focus on literacy development and beginning reading to be a part of the College of Education curricula for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECE) and Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEE).

WVSU will receive technical assistance from ABC+ for these courses to be taught. This project is holding another event this August 11 and 12, 2022 aimed to  develop and improve the early literacy training for pre-service teachers.

The Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, in collaboration with West Visayas State University College of Education, held the activity as part of their agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines—a 5-year project that aims to improve literacy skills, math, and social and emotional learning skills for Kindergarten through Grade 3 in Regions V (Bicol) and VI (West Visayas).

Dr. Joselito P. Villaruz, WVSU President, handing the certificates to Dr. Ana Marty (left) and Kate Schell (right)

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The WVSU – College of Law’s Project E-Hustisya

West Visayas State University – College of Law (WVSU-COL) implemented a project that focuses on legally assisting the marginalized sectors of Iloilo City.

The WVSU – College of Law’s Center for Law Advocacy is a legal clinic that provides legal assistance for marginalized sectors. However, what sets E-Hustisya apart is that it specifically focuses on abused women and children.

In Rule 138 – Law Student Practice Rule by the Supreme Court, students can act as lawyers and handle cases as long as a supervising lawyer is present. Thus, Project E-Hustisya is a student-driven legal clinic with Atty. Ian Thomas M. Besana acting as their supervising lawyer. The cases of victims will be facilitated by the College of Law student lawyers through interviewing clients, preparations of documents to be filed in court, assisting a negotiation, and other legal assistance necessary.

According to Atty. Ian Thomas M. Besana, also the college’s Associate Dean, the project had already begun conducting training for two barangays that are nearest the vicinity of the University campus—Brgy. Magsaysay and Brgy. Montinola. They are trained to carefully handle sensitive and pervasive cases regarding women and children victims. He said, “Sa barangay level pa lang kung ma resolve na siya hindi na mag file case… kay ang courts ta puno na sang cases”. However, it is essential to note that the College of Law’s Center for Law Advocacy also caters to other cases such as disputes, crimes, etc. Atty. Ian Thomas M. Besana mentioned that the College of Law aims to apply for Level 2 Training for the purpose of allowing law student practitioners to appear in courts.

The project is led by the College of Law, in partnership with the Gender and Development Office (GAD) and the Women and Children Protection Unit (WCPU). In addition, the United Nations and European Union granted two (2) million pesos to fund the project thus, an amount of one thousand five hundred (1,500) pesos will be given to consulting victims to be utilized as financial assistance if they decide to file a case.

Currently, the Center for Law Advocacy is open for people around Iloilo City, and even for the people around the University campus, though it is a mission to expand the project. Project E-Hustisya can be accessed through email, social media channels, and available hotlines to be provided along with booklets to be distributed by the Center for Law Advocacy called Pakigbato 101.

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Inaugural Release of the Journal for Law Advocacy

The WVSU Journal for Law Advocacy (JLA) is an academic journal  committed to the development of legal scholarship for and from the Visayas Region and Southern Philippines.  The student-run editorial board adheres to a double-blind peer review process as its editorial policy to determine the quality of submission both from law students and legal practitioners.

JLA’s inaugural issue carries the theme “Electoral Laws and the 2022 Philippine Election” and contains seven carefully selected chapters that provide important legal analyses of electoral issues that limit, if not hostage, the conduct of free and fair elections in the Philippines.  In preparation of the journal’s official launch by September 23rd 2022, online versions of the seven stand alone chapters will be shared to the reading public. For this week, JLA will be featuring two chapters written by the Student Editors of JLA and by Dean Jose Mari BFU Tirol. 

 

(Click the image to access the full article)

The first chapter entitled “Back to the Future’s Part: An overview of the recently-concluded 2022 National Elections” provides the reader with both the historical and political context that has shaped election results. Co-authored by the seven student editors of the Journal (Clyde Gacayan, Edson Yap, Kirby Aguaras, Rene Aviles, Vanessa Silla, Theda Gumban & Mike Guillem) this chapter is a recollection of the most important events of the election which were revisited to provide context to the most pressing legal questions that surrounded the polls. This includes the pre-campaign period, where the rules on substitution of candidates have seemingly worked in favor of the Marcos-Duterte tandem. Further, the campaign period, which is regulated by Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9006 or the Fair Elections Act, was marked by legal challenges as to campaign spending and the use of different media platforms, such as social media and ‘Operation Baklas” of the COMELEC, against which the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order as early as March 8, 2022. The May 9 polls, despite having a high voter turnout of 82.6%, were characterized by international observers as not meeting global standards for a free and fair election, as reports of election-related human rights violations surfaced. As early as the evening of election day, the landslide win of the Marcos-Duterte tandem became apparent yet unconvincing to many. What happened thereafter was unprecedented in Philippine electoral history. There were no pre-proclamation controversies nor election contests filed specifically against Marcos Jr., and his inauguration as the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines went smoothly, overshadowing his family’s legal theatrics to escape liability from the 21-year dictatorial rule of his father, Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.. 

The student editors, as well as contributing authors of this inaugural issue, hope that readers arrive at a more complete picture of the interplay of law, jurisprudence, and electoral reform in the Philippines. The different chapters of this volume earnestly put together provide at the very least, a diagnosis of each of the key areas of reform in the Philippine electoral system. A total of five more papers will be released online in the next 5 weeks tackling on issues about anti-political dynasty legislation, the party-list system, election-related offenses and rules on substitution. Thereafter, a print copy of the Journal will be made available for distribution.

For inquiries, please email the Journal’s Executive Editor –  Clyde Gacayan at [email protected] .

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WVSU Prepares for the 2022 World Research and Innovation Festival

By Leo G. Almonte, MDC

WVSU is preparing vigorously for the forthcoming World Research and Innovation Festival (WRIF), a virtual global research conference from October 17 to 19, 2022. Being a hub of creative works and innovative ideas, the university takes on the challenge of gathering 600 participants from various colleges and universities worldwide for the research festival.

Dr. Greta G. Gabinete, Vice President for Research Extension and Training, heads the WRIF Organizing Committee. The preparation requires the collaboration of almost all the units and departments of the university.

With an apt theme “Connecting the Global Community Through Research”, WVSU aims to create a productive and fruitful event where global researchers and innovators can share their ideas and new-found knowledge in their respective fields. 

“The World Research and Innovation Festival is an opportunity for the different units in  WVSU to work together and bring out the innovative ideas from global researchers,” Dr. Gabinete said.

According to the WRIF website, the festival is a  multi- and inter-disciplinary conference that provides a venue for local and international researchers to disseminate and exchange ideas on the latest trends and advances in research and innovation. Areas of interest are education, social sciences, pure and applied sciences, medical, health and allied sciences, business, tourism, and hospitality management.

International experts and academic leaders, as well as outstanding WVSU alums spread around the world, will serve as keynote and plenary speakers during the research festival,

For more information about the World Research and Innovation Festival, visit https://wvsu-wrif2022.org/


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WVSU Sends Delegation to PASUC Midterm Convention

By: Stephanie Dillera

A contingent from West Visayas State University attended the 2022 Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) Midterm Convention at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City from July 27-29. The event also celebrated PASUC’s 55th Founding Anniversary.

The Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) is an association established to strengthen academic advancement and maximize institutions’ potential to thrive in an ever-changing, inter-connected, and diverse world.

Around 600 representatives from various universities and colleges, government offices, partner agencies, and local and international stakeholders attended the convention with the theme “SUCs as Innovation Leader for Global Competitiveness”. 

Convention delegates from West Visayas State University included University President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz, Dr. Celina G. Gellada (Vice-President for Medical and Allied Sciences), Dr. Greta G. Gabinete (Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Extension), and Dr. Proferio J. Barlas Jr. (Vice-President for Administration and Finance).