LMK-Iligan to launch Youth Assembly

Youth leaders form different LMK Chapters around Iligan City plan out the upcoming LMK-Iligan General Assembly. 

Iligan City- About 130 youth participants will gather at Lim Beach in Barangay Santa Felomina this coming November 5-6, 2016 for an annual LMK-Iligan General Assembly. The participants will come from 17 barangays and 2 schools representing 22 LMK chapters in the city.

There will also be at least 8 youth observers coming from different youth organizations from the City and LMK formations from Zamboanga Peninsula, Lanao del Norte, Marawi City and Davao City who will join the event.

During the general assembly, there will be discussion on the global crisis, national and youth situation, the issues confronting the basic sectors in Iligan City, and the history of youth movement in the Philippines and the challenges in the 21st Century.

The General Assembly aims at strengthening the city-wide structure of LMK in Iligan by charting the direction of the organization based in the present context of the area, electing new leaders who will steer the organization for the next coming year, building solidarity among the different area of struggles of tri-people youth, and bringing back the vibrant and active movement of the youth in the city. 

It also aims at boosting the potential of the youth by channeling their creativity, energy, and daring spirit into proper venue to affect positive change in the society. 

Trapo, 'wag iboto!

Ngayong darating na ika-9 ng Mayo magaganap ang eleksyon na tutukoy sa paroroonan ng ating bansa sa darating na anim na taon. Bilang kasapi sa sektor ng kabataan, aktibo kaming lumalahok sa pagbabago ng ating bansa lalo na’t ang kabataan ang siyang may pinakamaraming naitalang botante- hindi bababa sa 37% ng botante o 20 milyon ang tinatayang bilang. Dagdag pa dito, bilang mga lider ng mga kabataan sa aming komunidad, kami ay humihimok sa mga kapwa kabataan na huwag magpapaalipin sa mga bumibili ng boto sa halip ay pangunahan ang pagboto ng tama dahil ito ay nagpapakita ng ating malaking partisipasyon para pangunahan ang pagbabago sa ating bansa.

Mula sa hanay ng Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan, magsusumite kami ng aming pahayag para sa darating na halalan. Humihikayat din kami sa mga ibang kabataan, gobyerno at ibang sektor na suportahan ang aming mga hinaing. Bilang isa sa mga botante, iaangat namin ang kakayahan ng mga kabataan na pumili ng wastong pinuno sa pamamagitan ng mga:

1. Ang hindi pagboto sa mga kandidato na hindi inuuna ang kapakanan ng nakakarami.

2. Ang hindi pagboto sa mga kandidato na hindi tumutugon sa panlipunang serbisyo kagaya ng libreng edukasyon, libreng patubig, at renewable na enerhiya.

3. Ang hindi pagboto sa mga kandidatong umaapak sa ating mga karapatan.

4. Ang pagsuporta sa mga kandidatong inuuna sa plataporma ang mga isyu na kailangan ng agarang sulosyon. Kagaya ng renewable energy, libreng edukasyon sa mga mahihirap at dagdag na pundo ang mga SUCs, maglaan ng mga sustinableng trabaho para sa lahat, taasan ang sahod ng mga pribado at pampublikong empleyado, at isakatuparan ang sapat na sahod para sa mga manggagawa.

5. Ang pagsuporta sa mga kandidato na bukas ang pag-iisip para sa mga LGBT at hinihingkayat nito ang mga LGBT na makiisa na tumaguyod sa pag-unlad ng ating lipunan. 

Naniniwala ang Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan na kung susupotahan natin ang mga nakalatid sa itaas ay magkakaroon tayo ng bagong lider na siyang pupunla ng solusyon at tutugon sa mga isyu at problema na kinakaharap ng ating bansa. Naniniwala din ang Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan na kung palalakasin natin ang puwersa ng mga kabataan at iangat ang kanilang partisipasyon sa politika, ay magkakaroon tayo ng pag-asa sa ating bayan.

Kabataan! Lumaban! Manindigan! Kumilos!

Position Paper of Various Student Organizations in MSU-Marawi Campus Regarding the MSU-System Charter Change

INCLUSION OF MECHANISM FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND TRANSPARENCY CLAUSE IN THE PROPOSED CHANGES

IN MSU SYSTEM CHARTER

(Position Paper formally submitted during the consultation on HB____ otherwise known as An Act Strengthening the Mindanao State University System and Appropriating Funds Therefor in Dimaporo Gymnasium, MSU-Marawi Campus, Marawi City on January 29, 2015)

Over the years, Mindanao State University has been successful, as an academic institution, in producing quality graduates who have been serving as manpower of growth not just in the region but in the entire country. With students coming from different regions of Mindanao whose backgrounds are socially and culturally diverse, MSU has been a haven for cultural integration, thus recognized as “melting pot of the south”.

With so much changes and development since its creation, there is indeed a need to enhance its more than 60 year-old charter to make it more responsive to the present condition, needs and demands of the society and of its constituents.

As we support this endeavor, we as well see two important points that need to be addressed in the proposed new charter of the MSU System.

Firstly, we believe that as the majority of the constituents of this system that comprise more or less 69,000 in number, the students in each of the campus under the MSU system must have a voice in the decision-making especially on the matters related to tuition fee increase, student rules and other student welfare issues.

As per experience in this Campus, the previous tuition fee increase and the removal of tuition privilege (TP) for students who have good academic performance did not undergo a proper consultation. It is important to note that majority of population of the students in this campus is coming from the poor section of the society. That is why they chose this university because it does not only offer quality education but also affordable tuition fee. As such, any increase in the tuition fee may jeopardize or worse, deny the students of their chance for education and defeat the social responsibility of the university which is stated in Section 8 of the proposed charter.

While the proposed charter emphasized the role of the student council, it is a fact that student body organizations have only limited power and therefore inadequate to participate in the actual decision-making. Thus, we suggest that the proposed charter should add, in the Section 9 Democratic Access, “Consultation as mechanism for democratic participation of students on matters pertaining to their welfare and interests. Any decision contrary to this process will be rendered invalid.”

Secondly, in the exercise of its functions as democratic institution, MSU has to be transparent and accountable to all its actions and decisions. There must be a mechanism for easier access on the decisions, project engagements and monetary collections of the university. This way, the university will establish a transparent relationship with its stakeholders.

Moreso, the unresolved criminal cases involving students and faculty members inside the MSU Marawi campus actually question the accountability of the university itself. Hence, issues of this kind have to be immediately addressed.

We, therefore, suggest that there must be a separate section pertaining transparency and accountability in the proposed charter which would address the above-mentioned issues.

To the men and women in congress, we ask your serious consideration of this position paper in the crafting of the proposed changes in charter of the MSU-System.  As students, we view ourselves as active contributors to the development process and success of the Mindanao State University.   

Signed:

Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan-MSU Chapter

Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Panlipunang Agham at Humanidades (SAMAPAH)

College of Agriculture Student Society (CASS)

Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Filipino (SAMAFIL)

 ______________________________

This document is a result of consultations among students and student leaders in the Mindanao State University-Marawi Campus. 

Justice for Crish Lanne Masancay! Justice for all the victims!

Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan-MSU Chapter
Statement on the Death of Crish Lanne Masancay
December 9, 2014

 

December 8, 2014 at around 11am, Crish Lanne Masangcay was shot by an unidentified person in the Commercial Center of Mindanao State University-Main Campus in Marawi City. He sustained 2 gunshot wounds and the reason of murder is still unknown and the suspect is still at large.

Crish Lanne, who just turned 17 years old last December 1, is a first year student taking up Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management in MSU-Marawi. He is from Lingig, Surigao del Sur.

Over the past years, unresolved criminal cases inside the Mindanao State University- Marawi Campus is increasing which made the campus unsafe for the students from the MINSUPALA region and from all over the country.

This increasing danger directed towards the students in the campus is a clear manifestation of weak security system in the university and lack of priority in ensuring the rights and welfare of the students.

To remember, Samuel Go III, a 4th year Agricultural Engineering student was also shot dead in the campus on June this year. Two years ago, Prof. Othello Cobal and Erwin Diaz were both murdered in broad daylight. These three (3) people were just among those who were killed inside the campus and until now, the perpetrators are still wandering freely. Justice was not delivered and served. It has never been served.

Their deaths left a chilling effect in the entire studentry. It even intensified biases and division among the tri-people constituents in the university.

As state institution, it is imperative for Mindanao State University to promote, uphold and protect the human rights of its constituents.  In the spate of murder victimizing the students, the Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan-MSU Chapter believes that the MSU Administration is fully accountable for all violence and crimes involving the students, faculty members and staff. These violence and crimes are apparently a violation of their human rights. The MSU Administration’s leniency in immediately bringing justice to the victims and its inability to put an end to this violence is intolerable and devalue human rights.

We, therefore, demand from the MSU Administration to:

• undertake transparent, accountable, and speedy actions to bring justice to the victims;
• conduct immediate investigation on the cases of murder in the campus; and
• strengthen the security mechanism centered on the rights and welfare of the students in the campus.

We are taking this stand because we believe that MSU is not mandated only to provide quality education but to secure and uphold the rights and welfare of the students.

Palayasin lahat sa pwesto at Pamahalaan ng mga Mamamayan, Itayo! Walang natamong pagbabago sa Bulok na Gobyerno!

Sa okasyon ng ika-5 SONA ni Presidente Aquino III
Hulyo 28, 2014

Sapat na ang apat na taon upang malantad ang tunay na mukha ng admistrasyong Aquino. Sa likod ng maskara ng reporma para sa “tuwid na daan” ay ang umaalingasaw na amoy ng katiwalian, pandarambong sa bayan, panlilinlang at maka-kapitalistang interes.

Ang iligal na paglustay ng bilyun-bilyong pundo sa ilalim ng Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) ay hayagang paglabag sa saligang batas ng Pilipinas. Kaya, kung ang mga sangkot sa anomalya ng PDAF ay hinakot sa kulungan, ang mga sangkot sa DAP ay dapat ding managot sa sambayan.

Maliban sa kurapsyon, sa 4 na taon ng Pangulong Aquino sa pwesto, kapu-punang walang pagbabago sa buhay ng mga Pilipino. Bagamat lumubo ang ekonomiya ng bansa ayon sa mga datos, patuloy pa ring mataas ang antas ng kahirapan na tinatayang pumapalo sa mahigit 22 milyong mamamayan ang mahirap at samantalang mahigit 30 milyon ang walang trabaho. Ayon sa pananaliksik, ang nakinabang sa malaking bahagi ng pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng bansa ay iilang pamilya lamang habang ang kakarampot na porsyento ay siyang pinaghati-hatian ng mayoryang mamamayan.

Wala ring pagbabago sa pagsagot sa mga pangangailangan ng mga mahihirap na mamamayan. Mabagal pa rin ang usad ng gobyerno sa pagpatupad ng mga programa kaya milyon-milyong mamamayang biktima ng mga kalamidad ang wala pa ring matirhan at hanapbuhay, sa halip ay isinusulong pa ng pamahalaang Aquino ang malawakang pagbenta sa soberenya at yamang likas ng Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao sa mga Korporasyon at dayuhang bansa. Mabagal din ang pamimigay ng lupa at suporta sa mga magsaska at mangingisda na nag-sadlak sa kanila bilang pinakamahirap na mga sector sa lipunan. Kakulangan ng serbisyo pa rin at hindi pagkilala sa mahalagang ambag sa ekonomiya ang danas ng hindi bababa sa 12 Milyong OFWs. Sa kabila nito, walang habas ang pagtaas ng mga presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin merkado na siyang lalong nagpalugmok sa mga mamamayan. Patuloy din ang pagtaas ng mga matrikula at babayarin sa mga paaralan na kung saan kumakailan lang 244 na mga pribadong paaralan sa elementarya at hayskul ay pinayagan ng Department of Education na dagdadan ang tuition fee samantalang 287 unibersidad at kolehiyo naman ang pinayagan ng Commission Higher on Education. Kitang kita din ang kakulangan ng suporta ng gobyerno sa usaping pangkalusugan at transportasyon.

Wala ding pagbabago sa kalakaran at negosyo sa pagpapatupad ng serbisyong sosyal. Sa ilalim ng administrasyong Aquino, hayagan din ang praybitisasyon ng mga serbisyong sosyal sa ilalim ng Private Partnership Program. Ang pagnenesgosyo na siyang naging sanhi ng problema sa suplay ng kuryente ay tinugunan ng mas malawak pang pagnenesgosyo nito. Ang haka-hakang kukulangin ang suplay ng kuryente sa 2015 ay nagbibigay daan upang madeklara ni Pangulong Aquino ang State of Emergency. Nakikitang ito ay mas lalo pang magpapalawak sa papel ng mga pribadong kompanya na uling ang pambala sa mga planta sa pagsagot sa pinangangambahang krisis sa kuryente. Dahil dito ang Pilipinas na ang kampyon sa pinakamahal na singil sa kuryente sa buong Asya.

Patuloy ang mga pamamaslang sa mga lider-komunidad at organisayong nagsusulong sa karapatan at kapakanan ng mga maralita’t mahihirap at maging ang patuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng mga pinaslang na mga mamamahayag at kay kupad ng pagbigay ng hustisya.

Ang usaping pangkapayapaan ay hamak na ginagamit lamang upang mas iangat ang popularidad ng administrasyon at interes ng mga Kapitalistang bansa’t korporasyon ay ang hayag na balangkas ng pamahalaan at hindi ang sinserong pagtugon sa karapatan sa Sariling Pagpapasya ng Mamamayang Lumad at Bangsamoro sa Mindanao.

Sa makatuwid, walang pagbabago dahil baluktot pa rin ang daang tinahak ng Administrasyong Aquino. Palayasin na lahat ang nasa pwesto at ang Pamahalaan ng mga Mamamayan ay Itayo!

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Ranaw Tri-people Movement for Genuine Peace and Development (RTMGPD)
Alyansa sa mga Kabus sa Lungsod ug Siyuda (AKLAS)
Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan (LMK)
Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan (KILOS KA)
Demokratikong Kulusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (DKMP)-Lanao
Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan (AKMK)
Lanao Fisheries Advocacy Network (LFAN)

LMK marches against corruption

June 12, 2014 the 116th anniversary of our independence --- our freedom from the colonizers. But in these 116 years, have we ever felt free or independent? FREEDOM is supposed to mean that we are free to do what we want (given that we also do not trample the freedom of others) and to be what we want. That is why we have the government on the first place, to ensure that each of us is provided the necessary things that makes us free. We gave them power to do that. But what is happening now is just the opposite. Scams and Corruption instead of education, internal political quarrels and continuous blaming within the city hall instead of housing for the typhoon victims. Politicking instead of ensuring the welfare of the workers. Due to unreasonable poverty we are not free even to live properly, an 8-hour labor for 60 pesos now where is the justice in that?

The Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan voices out the longstanding ills of those in authority and calls for change. This morning the LMK together with other groups marched on the center of Iligan for their cause. This afternoon in the Iligan Post Office at 2:30 pm a rally will be made and this time WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR VOICE!