MUST N E W S L E T T E RThe Official Newsletter of Mindanao University of Science & TechnologyC.M. Recto, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro Citywww.must.edu.ph

May 2015Special Edition

As of 12 noon: 443 Participants (110 of which are officials)REGION 9: MSU BUUG, JRMSU Dapitan, JRMSU Tampilisan, WMSU, ZSPCREGION 10: MUST, MOSCAT, BSU, CMU, CASISANG NHS, Jasaan, Oroquieta, Panaon, MSU-IIT, CPSC, MSU-MSAT, MSU Naawan, MSU LNACREGION 11: DOSCST, USEP, DNSC, SPAMASTREGION 12: USM – Main, USM – Kidapawan, SKSU – Main, CFCST – Main, SKSU - access campusCARAGA: ASSCAT, CSU, SDSSU ARMM: MSU – Marawi, MSU - Maguindanao

CHED, PASUC AND SUCs ZONAL ORIENTATION ON THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE ISKOLAR NG BAYAN ACT OF 2014 (R.A. No. 10648) and YOUTH CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY on PILIPINAS 20/20 PERFECT VISION FOR REAL CHANGE

May 29, 2015 at the Mindanao University of Science and Technology, Cagayan de Oro City

Atty. Bern Carrasco gives an overview of the Pilipinas 20/20 during its 4th cluster orientation.

Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras emphasizes the importance of SUCs in attaining the real change for the 20/20 vision.

State Colleges and Universities in Mindanao coming from Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Caraga gathered at the Mindanao University of Science and Technology on May 29, 2015 for the Youth Consultative Assembly on Pilipinas 2020: Perfect Vision for Real Change and the Zonal Orientation on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Iskolar ng Bayan Act of 2014.

According to Atty. Bern Carrasco, a staff of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, the idea of Pilipinas 2020 started when they became part of the technical working group of the formulation of the implementing rules and regulations for the Iskolar ng Bayan Act of 2014. She said that the real advocacy and goal of Sen. Cayetano is to have a universal higher

Mindanao SUCs gather for Youth Consultative Assembly on Pilipinas 2020, Zonal Orientation for Iskolar ng Bayan Act of 2014 held

Vision 20/20: A Prelude to a Universal Higher Education

By Anne Lorraine R. Sitoy

By Yellen Dianara C. Bacolod and Earl John L. Cabigon (The Trailblazer)

Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) and Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) President Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras commanded full attention during his keynote speech on Pilipinas 20/20 – a medium term program intended for the development of the country by the year 2020. Part of this development program would be the advancement of the State Universities and Colleges (SUC) pertaining to the idea of quality education that is attainable and affordable.

more on page 2...

more on page 2...

Program: Dr. Jo Mark M. Libre Venue: Mr. Allan Rodorocio Accommodation: Ms. Jane Maghinay Logistics: Mr. Felix Saquilayan Decoration: Mr. Joel Abratiguin

Over-All Chairperson: Dr. Juana M. De La Rama Co-Chairperson: Dr. Jo Mark M. Libre Members: Mr. Kenneth T. Asuncion Mr. John Lecena Mr. Jellie Edem Mr. Virgilio Artajo Ms. Vanessa M. Maandig Mr. Jan Rex Tabaquero Mr. Joven Ticon Mr. John Efsel Tumampong

Secretariat: Mrs. Fretzie Salado Technical: Mr. Erich Abad Food: Mrs. Jessica DaugMarshal/Security/Transpo: Mr. Erik C. Gundran Information Desk: Mr. Kenneth T. Asuncion Documentation: Ms. Anne Lorraine R. Sitoy Ushers & Usherettes: Mr. Marc Bacayo

Chairpersons:

MUST UPDATE Special Edition Staff: Anne Lorraine Sitoy, Ren Ybañez, KP Hortilano, Yellen Dianara Bacolod, Earl John Cabigon, April Rose Cahucom and Orejet Guerrero

education for all Filipinos which means free, accessible college education for all Filipinos for everyone to have an equal opportunity to attain one’s dreams. The Iskolar ng Bayan Law is just step one towards the attainment of the goal of universal higher education.

She challenged the participants by asking them if the goal is attainable then further shared that when she arrived at MUST, she saw the realization of the universal higher education dream.

“It is doable because it is here. MUST is part of the dream for universal higher education. We would like MUST to be the model that everybody else can do it,” she said.

Atty. Carrasco shared that Pilipinas 2020 also aspires for universal healthcare for everybody which means free quality and accessible healthcare for all Filipinos.

“We would like us all to be part of the real change. We should be able to establish the plan in order to walk the vision.”

Mindanao SUCs... Vision 20/20...

High end equipment and up-to-date facilities are indicators of a well-developed university. Compared with its Southeast Asian neighbors, the Philippines falls behind when it comes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) budget allocation allowing only 3% of the GDP to be given to the education sector while Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand allocates 6% of their GDP. According to Dr. Rotoras, for more than three decades SUCs have been in constant tussle between giving a reasonable tuition fee and providing the necessary amenities for the students to attain a higher quality education. In his speech, Dr. Rotoras pointed out that the limited budget being allocated by the national government is the most significant cause as to why the SUCs collect tuition fee. Vision 20/20 hopes to eradicate this problem by encouraging the growth of SUCs by increasing their annual budget allocation. If done, “Probably we could change the landscape of higher education five years from now”, Rotoras assured.

Moreover, the Vision 20/20 emphasizes the need of all SUCs to take a different outlook in the funding education. The government must also focus on the fundamental function of every state-funded Higher Education Institution (HEI), in order to make a real change by the year 2020. Furthermore, an equal opportunity for all Filipino youth must be perceived to enable and achieve the facets of Universal Higher education. As a result of the vision 20/20, the level of quality of Public Higher Education (PHE) is a reflection of the level of commitment of the state. Thus, PHE is a right to all youth and to ensure the quality education is the responsibility of the state. Development is everyone’s responsibility. Each individual and institution has a role to play in nation building. In a medical concept to achieve a 20/20 vision, one must be conscious in taking care of the eyes to see things clearly. In nation building, achieving a 20/20 vision means that each must be on the same page and perform their duties efficiently for everyone to see the light at the end of the tunnel.