Agreement reached between protagonists: Classes resume at college after month-long protests

By Gina Dizon and Dexter A. See

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Classes resumed at the Mountain State Polytecnique College here last week after more than a month of protests and rallies following an agreement between stakeholders.

Rallyists had been calling for the resignation of MPSPC president Nieves Dacyon but contending parties in a meeting agreed to resume classes and continue their dialogue Sept. 10.

In an recent meeting with the board of trustees of MPSPC August 10 at the regional office of the Commission on Higher Education in La Trinidad, Benguet, Dacyon, Blaine Bilalat representing the students, Dan Sokoken and Terrence Fangasan representing the faculty agreed that classes shall resume, all faculty members will report back to their classes, and operation of administrative and finance offices in the main office at Bontoc shall resume.

The body also agreed that documents shall be safeguarded under the Commission in Audit which shall conduct immediately an inventory of documents.

Parties also agreed the president and vice president shall not make any major decisions like purchases, contracts and appointments.

Students were also advised to refrain from making conclusions without the benefit of advice of financial officers or COA.

The August 10 meeting came to the agreement that financial documents upon written and specific request by the students shall be released.

The parties also agreed that charges be withdrawn against those involved in the July 1 incident.

Dacyon earlier resigned under “duress” last July 1 following an angry and violent protest of students and faculty including the destruction of school property.
The BOT did not accept the resignation.

The sectors also agreed they will not employ any form of harassment against those belonging to different parties.

The agreement called on the BOT to hold especial meeting in this capital town with the assurance that it will be free from disruptive activities, especially among the protesters, and that observers from the faculty, students, alumni and community will be allowed upon the clearance of the Ched chairperson.

The parties to the agreement decided to recognize the manifestation of the council of elders who claimed the economy of Bontoc was greatly affected by the temporary stoppage of the school’s operation.

Witnesses to the agreement were George Lumiwes representing the alumni sector; MPSPC board of trustees National Economic Development Authority regional director Juan Ngalob, Science and Technology regional director Dr Ben Ladilad, Agriculture regional director Marilyn Sta Catalina, Juan Dicang representing the Senate committee on education and Dr Emer Roman, former University of the Philippines president acting as mediator on said meeting.