More than sixty incumbent USG officers will officially hand over their posts tomorrow evening from 6 pm to 9 pm in a turnover program incorporated in the Student Government Awards Night to be held at the Henry Sy, Sr. Hall Roof Deck.
Although the elected officers only assume their posts after the official turnover, the processes and the transition for every seat, especially executive board seats, start after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announces the results of the General Elections.
This year, political party Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon (Santugon) won 61 seats, while political party Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista (Tapat) won 14 seats. Santugon took all the executive board positions except the presidency, which independent candidate the incoming USG President Migi Moreno won in a surprising upturn of events.
Importance of transition
During the said unofficial turnover period, incumbent officers share their insights, learning and the challenges that they faced, among other things to the incoming officers. Former USG President Cabe Aquino explains, “It [turnover] is essential to the continuity and effective transition of the USG. Transition begins when winners are announced by Comelec and up until the end of the year.”
She furthers, “It [turnover] spans from turning over old files, sharing strengths of the year, weaknesses, learning, and opportunities, introducing and connecting the successor to the different key persons/heads/secretaries at the University to maintain good relationships,
Aquino, however, recognizes that the turnover is more than just a turnover of files. She says that on a personal level, turnover involves “debriefing the person on everything it takes to get the job done—physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Its setting up the person as much as you can for success, so that she can in turn do it to the next and so on and so forth.”
Direction
In a previous interview with The LaSallian, Moreno has highlighted his vision and direction for the USG. Among other programs, Moreno wants to actualizing the “USG Goes to You” initiative, which entails regular meetings with every student organization and group to see how the USG could assist them.
