Banking on his past roles and engagements as a former finance executive and batch legislator, University Student Government (USG) President Raphael Hari-Ong hopes to imbue a “genuine Lasallian experience” to all Lasallians that goes beyond optimizing academic life through sustainable projects and policies.
In your first month as USG president, what takeaways or changes in perspective have you had on your position and on your administration’s goals?
To put it simply, it’s overwhelming. It’s more of [an] eye-opener because it’s different when you’re leading the whole USG because lahat ng colleges [and] batches sakop namin.
During that first month, doon ko nakita how important it is to always be on [the] ground. Even though students can easily reach out to us, iba ‘pag nakikita ka nila, because ‘yun ‘yung sense of reassurance ko to them na nandito ako.
Given the constantly shifting socio-political and institutional landscape, what steps will you take to fulfill expectations as the new USG president in fostering civic participation and supporting student activism?
‘Yun ‘yung isang problema na nakikita natin way before student activism. Hindi siya masyadong wini-welcome in and even outside the University. Our Legislative Assembly (LA) will be working on making the Cory Aquino Democratic Space (CADS) a free space para sa ganyang activities. Dapat hindi natin hinaharang [ang student activists] kasi at the end of the day, we are all students and lahat ng spaces dito, welcome na magamit natin.
In the previous administration, naging hype ‘yung red-tagging. It is one of our priorities to study [the] Freedom of Expression Bill na hindi natapos. Even though my term is only until August, at least may masisimulan tayo for the next administration on how [to] protect the students regarding external issues.
We are committed to focusing on national affairs, activities, and issues. We need student’s perspectives for our fellow students to understand the gravity of our politics outside.
Your campaign for the presidency was centered on providing a “genuine Lasallian experience.” What exactly does this mean for the student body and how do you plan to achieve this?
‘Yun yung gusto nating ma-ibalik at ma-experience ng fellow students natin post-pandemic. The genuine Lasallian experience na gusto naming ibigay is not only centered on academics but also [on] how you can maximize your stay here at DLSU.
Nandiyan ‘yung different policies that we have in store. Ang tinatrabaho namin for the next term is the Mental Health Policy and building a new [and] inclusive Safe Spaces Act together with the Lasallian Center for Inclusion, Diversity and Well-being (LCIDWell). For the problem sa Latin honors, hindi pa kami officially nakaupo noon, I was already messaging the Dean of Student Affairs on how we can propose.
‘Yung mga projects [like] ‘yung first day nagpa-free sorbetes kami. That’s the fun side but andito rin ‘yung ID on wheels. Gusto natin ma-ease, maging convenient, [and] maging masaya ‘yung student life niyo. Nandito kami to help ease your burdens academically [and] financially [through] different financial programs. For us, ‘yun ‘yung “genuine Lasallian experience,” na when we look back in our age, parang, “Ah oo, Lasalyano ako. Na-enjoy ko ‘yung stay ko dahil [sa] projects [and] policies na-experience namin.”
You were the former chief of staff of the USG’s Commission on Environmental Protection. How will you embody this advocacy in your current position as USG President?
This administration, we’re committed to not only doing outreach activities but also looking at how we can open the eyes of the students to protect the environment.
‘Yung Legislative Assembly natin, meron silang itatrabaho na policies. For example, when it comes to [unclear] plastic policies ng DLSU [because] per gate, bawal tayo magpasok ng mga plastics [but] we see our concessionaires here na nagbebenta ng mga one-time-use plastic. Baka gusto natin na ‘pag si student, nagdala siya ng sariling container, may discount siya. Kailangan kausapin each of the concessionaires, but if hindi sila pumayag, iaangat natin sa admin level.
From your experience under this commission, what do you think can be improved in implementing the OPRES commissions system?
For the OPRES commission system, the Commission on Disability Inclusion (CDI) is already independent. The commissions directly reporting to me are the Commission on Environmental Protection (CEP) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
OPRES gave them the liberty to actually do everything na related sa advocacy nila. Hindi nila kailangan mag-project pitching sa amin as long as they submit the necessary requirements and documents. As a member before ng commissions, parang ‘di ko nakita before how present the OPRES [is] to the commissions. Ngayon, ‘yun ‘yung gusto naming ibigay that commissions [have] liberty [and] nandito kami to help. Kumbaga, you as commissioners know kung ano gusto ng student body related to that advocacy, then we will be supporting you.
Former USG President Alex Brotonel introduced an HIV screening program for Lasallians last year, and your administration aims to implement the Healthcare Empowerment and Access for Lasallians (HEAL) program to further tackle sex education and reproductive health as well. What are the specific initiatives you intend to implement for this program?
The first phase of HEAL is a seminar on sex education and fertility. Ni-target namin siya na ma–launch [on] women’s month para ma–tackle ‘yung important things related not only sa women but of course the different genders and sexual orientations para maprotektahan [sila].
Ang na-envision ko [for HEAL] is to have a free vaccination program [for] the students. Nag-reach out na rin kami sa different partners [and] healthcare [companies]. Ang vaccines na nakikita namin to give out is [for] flu kasi one-time shot ito.
We are working with LoveYourself Inc. to have a booth here. Para sa student, hindi na kailangan mag–register for a free HIV testing [for] data privacy. Prefer din nila to have a booth here to educate the students, mamigay ng free HIV kits, and then ie–educate nila on the processes. If si student, for example, nag–positive siya, hindi na siya magiging conscious. Although nandiyan ang Health Services Office (HSO), idadaan natin [ang students] sa LoveYourself for them to have the proper guidelines on what to do moving forward.
Part of your slate’s plans of action is to further institutionalize and expand the Safe Spaces Policy in DLSU. What specific changes can the student body expect in the scope, provisions, and implementation of the policy under your tenure?
We met with LCIDWell Director Dr. Teeza Legaspi and raised na we can work on an inclusive Safe Spaces Act and nandoon, for example, ‘yung PWD inclusivity, women empowerment, and training and seminars for faculty and staff.
We want to work closely with CDI para ma–include ‘yung PWD inclusivity sa campus natin. For example, mag-aadd tayo ng ramps. ‘Yung PWD enlistment ng CDI, gusto na natin gawing institutionalized para may reassurance na hindi lang ito [during] our admin.
USG has recently acted on the increasing number of safety incidents around campus. Does USG have any plans on strengthening the cybersecurity of Lasallians, especially since there was a wave of data security incidents months ago?
‘Yun yung na-raise namin with our meetings with the Multi-Sectoral Consultative Committee on Tuition Fees. We are paying so much sa tuition fees [and] miscellaneous fees natin, but how come na–experience natin ‘yun? One of the things that we want to reassure [to] the student body is [the] transparency between the admin and students.
For cybersecurity, meron na silang in–invite na organization to review our cybersecurity here para hindi na ulit mangyari ‘yun. But [for] the USG’s side, we are committed [to] transparency between admin and the students na hindi natin nakita nu’ng cybersecurity attack. Nu’ng nangyari ang attack, hindi natin nalaman ano ‘yung reason [at] ano ‘yung plans moving forward.
The USG also previously released a statement against the PUV Modernization Program. Do you have any planned initiatives to raise and address concerns surrounding the program?
Ang gusto namin i–work towards is the transportation system ng DLSU. For example, nagpa–free Point-to-Point (P2P) bus kami. Now, we’re working with the Office of the Vice President (OVPIA), the admin, [and the] Campus Services [Office] kasi gusto natin i–improve ‘yung transportation in the event na hindi na pinayagan ‘yung traditional jeepneys to operate.
In–open namin ‘yung idea ng carpooling system that Campus Services is really open [to and] pag–expand ng Arrows Express and the P2P Buses. Nakausap na namin ‘yung operator ng N. Dela Rosa, so it’s one of the things that my administration is committed to expand. Nu’ng nag–release kami ng free P2P bus [services] for Holy Week, ang dami nag–reach out sa amin na paano daw ‘yung Northies kasi [for] Southies lang ‘yung P2P, so tinatrabaho namin to see anong point sa North pwede madaanan.
When it comes to the PUV modernization, our Vice President of External Affairs Macie Tarnate is committed to hindi lang pag-eeducate pero kung paano natin matutulungan ‘yung jeepney drivers. Before, nakipag–meet sila with different organizations for them to [hold a] donation drive.
How can your administration ensure that the USG projects are implemented amid this year’s smaller operational budget, considering that the past administration cited budgetary constraints as a concern?
‘Yung budget namin, ‘di hamak na sobrang liit kaysa sa past admin. We are continuously working with different organizations, partnerships, and the Parents of University Students Organization (DLSU PUSO) to help fund our projects.
Even though budget constraints are one of the problems of our administration, hindi namin siya gagawing hindrance [to] sustain our projects. ‘Yung term dito is diskarte, kung paano namin didiskartehan, to give the student body not only what they deserve, but how can they actualize that genuine Lasallian experience.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s June 2024 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSJune2024.
