Having held various finance-related roles in smaller University Student Government (USG) units and other endeavors, Bianca Manzano now sees herself set to take the helm as the USG’s next executive treasurer as she makes her debut run for office. Learning from her past experiences, Manzano envisions leading the Office of the Executive Treasurer (OTREAS) to ease student burdens and advance the fight for a zero-percent tuition fee increase (TFI).
The LaSallian: You have held a lot of financial and treasurer positions in various USG units and initiatives. How do you think these experiences prepared you for the position you are running for?
Manzano: I was already questioning myself a lot, but with the encouragement of my friends and my peers, I was able to establish this version of me that I will show to the university…Usually, appointed lang ako in these finance positions, so dumating ako sa point na, it’s my time to step up and to actually cater to a larger student body or a larger audience than what I’m [already] catering to. And I feel like that made me want to be in this position in the first place.
The LaSallian: How would you assess your predecessor’s performance under OTREAS, and what aspects do you seek to retain and/or improve should you become the next executive treasurer?
Manzano: Actually, the current OTREAS is already doing well in terms of the scholarships and the institutionalized scholarship programs that she (Juliana Meneses) was able to implement. But right now, what I’m focusing on is more on sustainability, especially with the recent budget cut. Sa tingin ko, kailangan natin mag-delve into projects na…will also follow through to the succeeding terms din. Right now, I’m trying to implement a comprehensive review of the tuition fee policies that we have…Instead of focusing on TFI alone, I will also delve into the other aspects involved in our tuition fee calculations, as well as student services.
Another would be providing more assistance for students, so [there would be] another needs-based scholarship program sa student sectors na hindi nata-tap pa ng current scholarships [that] we have right now. The last thing would be consultation services. We already have a lot of scholarships right now, [but] I believe that…some students…don’t know which scholarships they are eligible for. With the consultation services, they’d be more informed of what scholarships they can apply for, it’s another avenue for them to know the financial opportunities present here and outside La Salle.
The LaSallian: The incoming USG is currently running on a much lower operational fund than it had in previous years. What actions and strategies will your office employ to mitigate possible drawbacks from the budget cut?
Manzano: I would focus on the sustainability or the continuity of the projects…which is through policies that will be implemented or institutionalized. Another would be fundraising activities. Right now, we already have a lot of fundraising activities—‘yung bazaars, ‘yung merch—and I feel like we haven’t tapped much in the corporate sector, ‘yung corporate relations…By establishing good relationships with outside suppliers or companies ngayon na part ‘yung La Salle, feel ko magkakaroon tayo ng mas malaking avenue for students or for the USG. By that, mas makakagawa tayo ng projects, mas mafa-fund natin ‘yun for the students.
The LaSallian: Given the limited budget, what will be your office’s priorities?
Manzano: My office’s priority would be the tuition fee policies because that is a thing na madadala sa other terms and ‘yung gusto namin i-promulgate in our office and with the rest of the executive board is ‘yung sustainability. So, siguro, [in] collaboration with the Finance and Accounting Office (FAO), as well as the other organizations involved here in La Salle, feel ko mas mai-implement or mala-lobby natin ‘yung policies na ‘yon. For instance, medyo strict ‘yung penalty guidelines kapag late ka nagbayad. If naayos ‘yun, mas magkakaroon ng leeway ‘yung mga student in terms of paying their tuition fees.
Another would be ‘yung review of miscellaneous expenses. Medyo marami ‘yung miscellaneous expenses na ‘di naman natin nagagamit. By tapping into that, I feel like we can lessen the effects that the tuition fee increase has. Aside from that, again, more scholarships and good communication with outside suppliers para ma-fund natin ‘yung projects na tina-try gawin ng USG.
The LaSallian: On TFI, why do you think there is limited success in pushing for a zero-percent TFI, and how do you envision the incoming USG changing this usual outcome?
Manzano: I feel like the drawbacks that the previous administrations have [faced are] that they’re focusing on getting feedback from the students and lacking on the project-based implementation or project-based approach toward TFI. Another would be…instead of just getting feedback from the students, you would also provide your inputs in the Multi-Sectoral Consultative Committee on Tuition Fees (MSCCTF) campaign. Hopefully, by that, mari-realize ng other organizations involved in that committee to be more open toward other avenues to earn money, kasi feel ko ‘yun naman ‘yung main purpose ng TFI, which is to have more income-generating activity para sa activities na ginagawa sa school.
The LaSallian: Can you expound more on the project-based approach toward TFI?
Manzano: Recently kasi, they [focused more] on focus group discussions, as well as student feedback. Right now, I want to promulgate a more detailed, more collaborative approach, meaning, kunwari, the MSCCTF, or the FAO, they have audit reports. As a BS Accountancy student myself, I have experience doing audit reports. So, I feel like if I know the specific details that go [into] these audit reports, I can provide inputs regarding it…Aside from that, ‘di natin tatanggalin ‘yung student feedback. We would amplify their voices more by urging them to collaborate with us more. Siguro ‘yun yung isang thing na [magpapabago] ng outcome ng TFI campaign.
The LaSallian: Usual problems raised in OTREAS are bottlenecks and bureaucracies in obtaining funds. Do you believe that this problem remains present today, and if so, how do you intend to address it?
Manzano: I feel like that specific problem isn’t [that] relevant today kasi funds [are] centralized per government. In order to fix this bottleneck problem, I think it’s important we establish good communication with our college presidents [and] other members of the Executive Board. I [also] feel like there are bottlenecks because there are usually issues na kapag mas mataas ‘yung unit na tinatakbuhan mo, mas aware ka kaysa sa batch units. So, mas ginugusto ng college units na sila ‘yung nagha-handle nu’n. With proper training, aside from the treasurer’s manual…all units of the government in the USG would be more informed, and this would alleviate, hopefully, the bottleneck problem.
The LaSallian: Can you explain what your campaign’s vision, “Realized Lasallian Purpose”, means, especially in connection to the position you are running for?
Manzano: “Realizing Lasallian Purpose” means having access toward equitable financial opportunities…What we aim is, from genuine Lasallian experience, mag-move on kami into a more amplified version of students…and USG will serve as an avenue for them to achieve that Lasallian purpose. In my office naman, siguro providing financial opportunities kasi right now, I still recognize that there are a lot of students that are having financial burdens, and what better way for my office to help the students is to provide more financial opportunities. Like what I’ve mentioned, I would offer one more needs-based scholarship grant, as well as consultation services that students can apply for, so they are more informed [of] what my office offers in that aspect.
The LaSallian: Should you become executive treasurer, how do you envision your office and the student body after your tenure?
Manzano: Right now, what I see with OTREAS and the previous administrations, I feel like they’re focusing more on their terms or their projects na magsi-stay lang sa term nila. Although I do recognize that some of the projects are being institutionalized, I really want to focus on the sustainability aspect kasi feel ko ‘di pa ‘yun nata-tap masyado ng previous administrations. I feel like we should delve more on policy making kasi ‘yun naman talaga ‘yung makaaapekto sa lahat ng students…And with the realized Lasallian purpose, what we aim is to be there for everyone, regardless of what status you are. With that, I feel like by being more policy-based, siguro mai-inspire ‘yung next OTREAS to think more outside of the box rather than the usual scholarships or financial opportunities they offer.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
