19/07/2026
๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Bulacan State University Student Government advanced the reach of its governance, as they gathered at San Rafael Campus for the third day of the Third Regular Legislative Body Session, a first in the universityโs history to be held outside the main campus.
The session took place on July 18, 2026, led by the Office of the Vice President, marking the culmination of a three-day deliberation process on proposed budgets for student-led programs. Despite only 8 of the 12 senators being present, just enough to meet quorum, the session officially began.
One of the first resolutions to pass centered on historical awareness. Board Member Niรฑo Santos of CPTED secured approval for a modest โฑ2,824 budget for โLaya: Pag-alala Simula ng Batas Militar,โ a September 2026 event aimed at encouraging students to reflect on the legacy of Martial Law. While the proposal moved quickly toward approval, it wasnโt without questions, as senators raised concerns about missing documentation and even the timing of the event. Still, the measure passed, with proponents emphasizing the urgency of engaging students in political and historical discourse.
Board Member Neil Jonathan Castro from CPTED came next as his Draft Financial Resolution centered on Buwan ng Wika at Kasaysayan 2026, a four-day event featuring six competitions, received conditional approval. With a budget of over โฑ11,800, the program was framed as an effort to strengthen patriotism among students, supported by campus organizations like SAMAFIL and MAKIBAKA. Senators, however, opted to withhold full approval pending further clarifications.
The third resolution that was proposed was the request for calculator units Board Member Ramil Rodriguez Pante of Bustos Campus, aiming to extend the services of lending calculators, as the lending services from the previous academic year was deemed to be insufficient. Initially priced at over โฑ13,000, the proposed budget was gradually trimmed to โฑ8,990 after deliberations. From the 15 calculators originally proposed, the number was reduced to 10, primarily because several calculators from the previous academic year remained available for borrowing. The reduction reflected concerns about accountability and long-term use. Senators emphasized that such purchases should be treated as investments, pressing for fewer units and clearer plans to ensure proper handling and longevity of the calculators.
Other resolutions, including "CENTREPRENEURS: Building Strong Business Foundation through the DTIs 7Ms Framework and Proper Business Registration" of Board Member Jemuel Samonte of Bustos Campus and the Procurement of Dissection Pans by Board Member Jewel De Jesus of San Rafael Campus, also received conditional approval, with senators repeatedly calling for clearer breakdowns and supporting documents before releasing funds.
The most contentious discussion of the day came with a proposal for the SRW Month Opening Salvo by Senator Criscel Dela Peรฑa, carrying a hefty โฑ145,450 request for funds. Vice President Capule flagged a significant discrepancy in the budget, noting that figures appeared overstated by tens of thousands of pesos. The calculation was deemed inaccurate, as the supposed โฑ57,000 budget for Lakambini and Lakandiwa participants were multiplied by 2, thus raising it to a massive amount of โฑ114,000. The gap raised red flags, underscoring what is described as a โserious lapseโ in budget preparation. Deliberations on the budget proposal reflected a broader theme of the session, which was to tighten financial discipline in student governance.
The legislative sessionโs purpose is to deliberate budget proposals, therefore, it was part of the process to scrutinize the details in which the presenter missed. The โฑ57,000 overstated funds were eventually acknowledged by Senator Dela Peรฑa, noting the revisions for her proposed Draft Financial Resolution.
By the end of the afternoon, six resolutions had been tackled. Two were approved outright, while four remained conditionally approved with pending revisions, clarifications, and compliance with stricter documentation requirements to ensure that funds lent to support student advocacies are efficiently utilized.
The session signaled a shift in how student leadership operates within the university. Throughout the deliberations, senators closely examined each proposal, requiring revisions and clarifications where necessary to ensure that every allocation was justified and aligned with the needs of the student body. Holding the legislative body session at the San Rafael Campus opened the process to a wider student base, expanding governance to the satellite campuses, an initiative by the Student Government which aimed to increase transparency, making their governance more accessible to students across all campuses. It ensures that discussions and decisions affecting the student body are no longer centered solely on the main campus, but include the voices and concerns of the wider university community. โvia Mariane Gaga-a and Andrea De Guzman, PLUMALAYA
Photos taken by Mariane Gaga-a, PLUMALAYA
