Youths hold protest over student issues

Different youth organizations from different colleges and universities in Cebu convened in a day of demonstration to observe the Youth National Day of Protest yesterday.

Spearheaded by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and National Union of Students of the Philippines and participated by around 50 students, the activity ended in a candle-lighting activity in Fuente Osmeña.

Participants lit a signage they called “Struggle for Your Rights” and where they asked students to be vocal in expressing and fighting for rights that have been violated.

Student leaders talked about violations of campus press freedom and the rights of the youth as students.

CEGP chairwoman Maria Carla Alvarico said that the campus press is supposed to be an autonomous body, yet in some colleges and universities the administration holds control over the campus publication, even withholding funds and screening articles.

Protesters also spoke against increase in tuition and other fees and called on the government to give more priority to education above all.

Alvarico clarified that their protest is their way of telling the government that the youth are aware of the issues that concern Philippine society and that they are ready to take action in the struggle for their rights.

Meanwhile, Kabataang Pinoy Party, a youth organization composed of Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students and the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines, staged another noise barrage downtown.

Renil Oliva, chairwoman of Kabataang Pinoy Cebu Chapter, said the noise barrage symbolizes adversity and poverty of Filipinos especially the youth.

The KPP called for the scrapping of the 12-percent value added tax in basic commodities, petroleum products, electricity and others and also to allot more budget to education over foreign debt.  — Jessica Ann Pareja/BRP