Pasado na sa 2nd Reading ang House Bill 8242. Layunin ng Right to Adequate Food Act na magkaroon ng sapat na pagkain para sa lahat. Hinahangad nating mawala ang hunger incidence sa bansa.
#AlagangBelmonte #RTAF #HB8242 #ZeroHunger
Basahin ang batas dito:
Following the unilateral abrogation of the University of the Philippines-Department of National Defense (UP-DND) Accord, Quezon City 6th District Representative Jose Christopher Y. Belmonte filed House Bill No. 8443 or the Academic Freedom Act of 2021 on Thursday, institutionalizing state universities and colleges as freedom spaces.
The bill aims to declare schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs) as freedom spaces where academic freedom is guaranteed. It also recognizes that SUCs shall exercise full acts of ownership over their properties, which would require coordination with and authorization from school administrations for the state to conduct security operations within the school premises.
HB 8443 maintains that state forces can enter school premises in specific situations such as in hot pursuit, or emergency situations, provided that they coordinate with the school administration. It also makes way for the creation of a joint congressional oversight committee to ensure proper implementation.
The bill is similar to the UP-DND Accord, but will now have the force of law once passed, covering all state universities and colleges in the country.
“Bakit natin ili-limit sa UP? This freedom, the right to protect our freedom of speech, our academic freedom – dapat available po sa lahat itong mga prinsipyo na ito. Dapat isama na ito sa mga mandate ng state universities,” Belmonte said.
The UP-DND Accord was signed on June 1989. It outlines the operations of the police and the armed forces in state universities and colleges. This includes prohibition of entry unless coordinated with school officials, non-intervention in public demonstrations and protests, and notifying schools when students are arrested.
“History tells us, repression breeds resistance. With the unilateral termination, lalo lang nila papalakihin ang problema instead of solving it,” the deputy minority leader emphasized.
Belmonte also encouraged Members of Congress to support the bill and protect the freedoms and rights that are flourishing in universities. At the present, there are at least 60 Members of the House of Representatives who are graduates of the University of the Philippines.
Read the bill:
