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Tarlac State University - The Work

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Tarlac State University - The Work

The Work is the official student publication of Tarlac State University founded in 1948. For comments and suggestions, email us at [email protected]

Founded in 1948, The Work is one of the oldest student-run newspapers in the region. The publication releases its regular issues in various formats including tabloid, newsletter, and magazine. Its literary folio, Obra, is also published annually along with other special issues such as comprehensive coverages of student elections and sporting events. On its 77th year, The Work commemorates a long h

istory of responsible campus journalism, truthful inquiry, and determined advocacies. It will continue its enduring efforts to end the silence of the suppressed, to amplify the unheard calls of the struggling masses. The Work is a two-time Best Performing Publication in the Regional Higher Education Press Conference (RHEPC) and is the recipient of the Best Publication award at the 6th Gawad Jemalyn Lacadin, a regional biennial event organized by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.

02/09/2025

The Work, the 77-year-old official student publication of Tarlac State University( (TSU), once again concluded this year’s 4th Young Journalist Press Freedom Congress (YJPFC) on a high note, retaining 2nd and 4th overall places in the E-Magazine and Best Social Media Page categories, respectively.

Meanwhile, the publication secured 5th overall in the News Broadcast Production and ranked 10th in the Mobile Journalism Video.

Out of 390 delegates from 37 participating student publications across Central Luzon, the 2nd Best Performing Publication during YJPFC’s 2024 edition took home the following awards in the group categories:

𝐄-𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐙𝐈𝐍𝐄
2𝒏𝒅 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑬-𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒆

• 2nd Place, Best Literary Pages
• 3rd Place, Best Opinion Pages
• 4th Place, Best Features Pages
• 5th Place, Best DevComm Pages
• 5th Place, Best Editorial Pages
• 5th Place, Best Photos
• 6th Place, Best Page Layout
• 7th Place, Best News Reports
• 9th Place, Best Sports Pages

𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄
4𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑺𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆

• 3rd Place DevComm Entry by Clarisse Fajardo and Melissa Yuson
• 3rd Place Opinion Entry by Patricia Lomboy and Luiz Macapagal
• 4th Place Infographic Entry by Allan Tipon Jr., Renz Joshua De Vera, Kate Aira Mendoza, and Clarisse Fajardo
• 4th Place News Entry by Andrei Opeña and Patricia Lomboy
• 5th Place Editorial Entry by Patricia Lomboy
• 9th Place Comics Entry by Melissa Yuson and Gwend Magbalot
• 9th Place Literary Graphics Entry by Benny Dick Paraso

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
5𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

• 1st Place, News Anchor - Luiz Macapagal
• 7th Place, Technical Application - Lee Olidar
• 9th Place, Best Script
• 10th Place, News Anchor - Lee Olidar
• 10th Place, News Story - COSTipid

𝐌𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐉𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐌 𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎
10𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑴𝒐𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒎 𝑽𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒐

Furthermore, two editorial board and staff of The Work showcased their exceptional journalistic skills, securing the following awards in the newly introduced individual categories:

• 2nd Place Journalistic Position Paper Writing (English) - Patricia Lomboy
• 4th Place Journalistic Position Paper Writing (Filipino) - Kleyn Abigail Fernandez

write. move. initiate

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Report by Andrei Opeña
Layout by Allan Tipon Jr.

01/09/2025

𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍 | Modern-day Adam and Eve

Man's desire is insatiable. Theoretically, this dilemma dates way back to a specific version of humanity's origin, where a man and woman succumbs to the allure of what's forbidden—an act of disobedience to gain self-fulfillment. In return, it yielded to the damnation of all—a decision forged as a disaster waiting to happen.

This ancient allegory is not confined to Eden. The hunger to transcend limits, to taste power, and to touch beyond what's meant for oneself extends to the corridors of bureaucracy, where concrete promises are poured into creeks and canals, not to save lives but to siphon budgets. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), tasked with shielding communities from floodwaters, now finds itself in allegations of corruption, ghost projects, and misaligned priorities.

This is no longer about infastructure alone—it is also about the anatomy of desire. The same insatiable hunger that led Adam and Eve to reach the forbidden fruit now manifests in padded contracts, recycled project titles, and drainage systems that drain nothing but public trust.

In Tarlac Province alone, glaring ironies exist. Municipalities deemed with the most flood-control budget and projects are often the ones most submerged. The top 10 most flood-prone zones—those that received a lion's share of DPWH's budget total—now serve as case studies of political betrayal. The irony deepens when one traces the signatures in these contracts. Some of the most flood-prone towns are governed by political dynasties—families whose surnames echo across decades of local rule.

These dynasties preside over projects that promise protection but delivers paralysis. Their legacy is not resilience, but a recurrence of a never-ending cycle of rubbish and folly.

Indeed, desire, when left unchecked, becomes disaster—all the more dangerous when it resides in the emotional patterns that shape the values of expectedly reputable public servants. The hunger to transcend limits becomes the hunger to bypass oversight. Certificates of Coordination becomes optional. Drainage master plans are ignored. Local consultation appears inconvenient.

The flood control controversy reveals a system where the desire for profit eclipses the duty to protect; where creeks are covered by roads, pumping stations are built without permits, and contractors with PhP 250,000 capital bag PhP 5,000,000 deals.

This is the ailment of the country. One's desire of growth and development only extends to familial bonds, and so progress becomes dynastic, not democratic. Roads are paved not towards public use, but toward reelection. Drainage systems are laid not to protect the vulnerable, but to fortify a political empire.

The blueprint of infastructure is no longer drawn by engineers—it is sketched by strategists, measured in votes, cemented by nepotism. The nation's arteries are clogged not by silt, but by self-interest.

In this landscape, merit is a myth. The contractor is a cousin. The consultant is a compadre. The oversight committee is chaired by someone whose last name matches an official. Public service becomes a family business, and the people—those outside the bloodline—are left to wade through the consequences.

And when the blame comes and knocks on their doors, it is not just nature that bears the weight—it is fate, bad luck, or 'acts of God'. But the real act of betrayal is man-made. It is the refusal to admit fault, the deflection of responsibility, and the stubborn silence every after exposé. The salvation of the nation becomes futile, because no one wants to admit anything—everyone claims to be saints.

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Written by Patricia Liana Lomboy
Layout by Rhian Justine Dela Cruz

01/09/2025

𝐈𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐈 | International experts educate studes on cultural conservation, its importance in shaping the future

Three international experts on local and foreign history and heritage emphasized the significance of cultural conservation in shaping society’s future in a recent seminar entitled “Bridging Cultures: International Conversations on Culture, Heritage, and History” at the College of Computer Studies AVR, San Isidro Campus, August 28.

Ar. Giuseppe Luigi Abcede, Heritage Conservation Society (HCS) - Philippines President, opened the discussion, delivering a presentation that focused on how their organization works as a platform for heritage conservation.

“We do projects that have to do with workshops and lectures to citizens, regardless of their educational background, to understand heritage more,” he shared.

Abcede also highlighted the importance of developer–stakeholder collaboration in protecting cultural and heritage sites.

“There is that bridge between these developers and stakeholders either to get heritage CSR opportunities or other benefits,” he stated.

Following Abcede, Ar. Fauzy Ismail from the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS) also talked about their organization’s approach to conservation, which is through policymaking, writing position papers, and publishing books that promote their advocacies.

He also shared that they are collaborating with the South East Asian Cultural Heritage Alliance (SEACHA) to carry out public engagement campaigns and make trips to schools to educate students.

In addition, Ismail also disclosed the process they use to ensure a successful conservation. By doing a step-by-step process, they gather data and communicate with the government. They educate the people on how they are important in contributing to the advocacies they fight for.

Mr. Julian Menko, on the other hand, spoke about the importance of diversity in heritage work, urging for more global and more diverse organizations.

During the panel discussion, the speakers were asked about the ongoing land grabbing across the country, specifically in Tarlac province. Abcede stressed that consultation is needed.

“You really have to consider adding another layer of consultation. Even we architects and designers, there’s a blind consultation involved. But we added a layer of cultural sensitivity training also for you. You want to highlight certain patterns about their culture, you’re gonna be exposed to something you want or not,” he explained.

Meanwhile, when asked about the future of heritage amidst the rapid growth of modernity, Ismail responded that it is inevitable, saying he would opt to sacrifice a heritage to foster a new structure and noted that “it’s a matter of perspective.”

Moreover, the speakers also underscored the role of students in ensuring heritage continuity, the value of adaptive approaches, and the importance of cultural sensitivity in working with communities.

The seminar, organized by the HCS-TSU, was attended by fine arts and architecture students at the University, as well as learner-delegates from Pampanga State University - Architecture Students’ Organization (PSU-ARSO).

____________

Report by Vincent Jayne Pallasigui
Photo by Ivan Kerht Manguera and Benny Dick Paraso
Layout by Allan Tipon Jr.

01/09/2025

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 | TSU-SSC charts plans, commitments in Pulso ng Konseho finale

Tarlac State University — Supreme Student Council (TSU-SSC), through its President Hon. Brixter Millo and Senator on Audit Jazmine Faye Samson, outlined its future plans and commitments for the student body in 87.5 Firefox Radio’s final episode of Pulso ng Konseho: Kwentuhan On Air, August 29.

One of the council’s priorities, according to Millo, is to enhance and expand communication across campuses. Thus, applications and screening are open for extension college representatives who will bridge connections from campus to campus.

Millo emphasized the importance of collaboration, noting that SSC continues to consult with College Student Councils (CSCs) to ensure inclusive decision-making.

For student activities, the council confirmed its plans to revive intramurals in November, which was cancelled last academic year due to scheduling conflicts, and is finalizing preparations for Foundation Week with the usual events such as Mr. and Ms. TSU, street dance, booth competitions, battle of the bands, and yell contests.

Moreover, SSC acknowledged pressing student concerns, such as long shuttle lines caused by campus flooding, assuring that actions were taken to address the issue.

Besides these, Millo and Samson highlighted the council’s accomplished initiatives through enacting a series of resolutions primarily focused on keeping students informed of what is happening on and off campus like Resolution No. 002 establishing the Board of Student Organizations (BSO).

Other resolutions enacted by SSC include Resolution No. 003 mandating regular education discussions on national and university issues and Resolutions No. 004 and 005 encouraging campus publications, with Millo affirming SSC’s support for press freedom: “Mapa-pangit man yan o maganda, dapat lahat inilalabas para all students are well-informed.”

Furthermore, financial transparency was also expressed as the officers disclosed that this year’s SSC budget stands at Php 2.9 million, an amount considerably lower compared to last year’s Php 3.5–4.5 million. The lower budget has led to adjustments in prospective projects, but the council stressed that despite constraints, they are committed to carrying out major activities.

In addition, Millo and Samson reiterated their commitment to responsible and transparent leadership, saying: “Kapag dating sa SSC talaga, you have to be more careful sa mga decisions mo. Kasi once na magkamali ka, hindi lang isang college, kundi buong university na ang affected. Iba yung bigat ng work niya.”

On the other hand, eight CSCs of TSU and the Supreme Student Government (SSG) of TSU Laboratory School, in the earlier episodes of the Pulso ng Konseho, have also highlighted the importance of good governance, which SSC aims to uphold in its future endeavors.

____________

Report by Danica Burce
Photo from TSU 87.5 Firefox Radio
Layout by Allan Tipon Jr.

01/09/2025

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖 | With the objective to exact political competence in matters of flood control management, local progressive organizations and civic groups gather for a protest in San Fernando, Pampanga, September 1.

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31/08/2025

𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗡 | Sa Bibig ng Umiibig

Kung Pebrero ang buwan ng rosas at tula, Agosto naman ang ating araw ng mga puso. Sapagkat, dito natin pinagdiriwang ang wika—may higit pa bang malapit sa puso kaysa salita?

Ginugunita ang panata ng umiibig sa bawat katagang nananatiling buhay. Sa panahong ito, inaamin ng bibig ang tagal ng kanyang pagtataksil, at saka muling binabalik ang tamis mula sa matagal nang iniwang minamahal.

𝗧𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗸 𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗴

Walang maririnig na anumang pintig kapag naibaon na sa kailaliman ng daigdig. Maging ang mga pusong minsang pinagkaisa ng matamis na Pebrero o Agosto ay walang magiging laban ng pag-alsa kung ang mismong sangkatauhan na ang nagdala ng mga pusong ito sa hukay na madalas ay hindi naman sa kanila.

Maituturing isa sa mga pusong kasalukuyang nasa libingan ang wikang Filipino. Noong itala ang Konstitusyong 1987 ng Pilipinas, idineklara ng Artikulo XIV, Seksyon 6 ang ‘Filipino’ bilang pambansang wika ng Pilipinas.

Subalit sa paglipas ng dekada’t panahon, unti-unting binuburol ang wika sa pamamagitan ng pagpilit ng pait ng sistema sa dila ng bawat Pilipino.

Karamihan sa mga bagong silang ng bayan ay siya ring nauuna sa pagburol ng kanilang mga puso. Sa halip na pintig ng pagka-Pilipino ang kanilang pinapalakas, may ilan na kumakapit sa ritmong pilit isinusubo ng mga banyaga.

Maging ang mga bata ay tila pinipiling sumabay sa himnong banyaga. Ayon sa tala ni Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian sa isang Pulse Asia survey, higit na mas pinapaboran ng mga mag-aaral na nasa ika-una hanggang ikatlong baitang ang wikang Ingles sa pagtuturo kaysa sa kanilang pampook na lenggwahe.

Ipinakita na 38% na estudyante lamang ang mas pabor sa kanilang sariling lenggwahe habang 71% naman ng mga mag-aaral ay pinipiling pakinggan ang pintig ng wikang Ingles.

Ulit-ulit na ang Agosto. Maging na rin ang Pebrero. Subalit sa kabila ng libo-libong dila na pumipitik upang isabuhay ang pambansang wika, hindi maitatanggi na tila mas pinipiling bigyang dangal ng mga Pilipino ang Nobyembre sa patuloy na pagkapit sa sistemang binuburol ang tibok ng pagiging Pilipino.

At kung tuluyan mang itulak, baka sa katahimikan ng isang libing na walang nagluluksa lamang maririnig ang huling pintig ng pagka-Pilipino. Walang lapida, bulaklak, o anumang ritmo— wala ring pintig. Patay, kahit sa gitna ng Agosto.

𝗞𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗯𝗱𝗶𝗯

Ngunit sa bawat salitang binibitawan ng ating dila, may kumakabig sa ating dibdib.

Sapagkat alam nating higit pa sa komunikasyon ang wika ito ang sisidlan ng alaala, kasaysayan, at kultura.

Kapag ito’y nawalan nang pintig, kasama nitong nalilibing ang pananampalataya, panitikan, at mga salinlahi ng karunungan.

Kaya’t patuloy ang mga pagtatangka na ipainom muli ang wika sa bawat labi. Ngayong taon, inihain ni Rep. Chel Diokno ang House Bill No. 3863 Batas sa Sariling Wika na naglalayong isalin sa Filipino ang lahat ng mga batas.

Sa ilalim ng panukalang ito, bawat artikulo ng batas ay magiging tinig na maaari nang dumaloy direkta sa dila ng mamamayan—hindi na salita ng iilan, kung hindi pintig ng lahat.

At hindi lamang sa bulwagan ng batas tumitibok ang ganitong sigla. Sa mga silid-aralan, sa internet, sa musika, pelikula at mga panitikan itinataguyod ang wika upang sumiklab sa bibig, dumaloy sa dila, at kumabig ng mga dibdib.

Dahil buhay ang wika. Isinisiksik nito ang sarili sa kultura, sa kung sinumang maaaring sumambit, at magpalawig sa kan’ya.

Sa ilang wikang naibaon na lamang sa huling hantungan ng pagkalimot, hindi mamamatay ang isang wika hangga’t may umaalala’t umiibig.

Ang buwan para sa pambansang wika ay hindi dapat maging pahiwatig na tila Nobyembre nang pagluluksa sa nakalimot na dila’t diwa, kung hindi Pebrero ng pag-ibig para sa sariling wika at Agosto ng pagtibok sa nasyonalismo para sa bansa.

Dahil habang may bibig na handang magwika, habang may pusong handang kumabig, mananatili itong buhay. Mananatili itong atin. Mananatili itong pag-ibig sa wikang mapagpalaya na kailanma’y hindi magmamaliw.

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Sa panulat ni Vincent Jayne Pallasigui, Janeth Gamboa, at Alelie Jade Mallari
Dibuho ni Reina Jyneh Sapigao
Inilapat ni Wildred Lamintao

30/08/2025

Para sa bulaklak na pumailanlang sa hangin ng pagdurusa,
Anong anyo ng karumihan ang ipinakita ng mundo sa iyo?
Hindi dahil ang iyong tinig ay mahina,
Kundi dahil wala ni isang nakinig sa tangis ng iyong kaluluwa.

Ngunit patuloy pa rin na uusbong,
Ang katotohanang nilimusan ng dura,
Ang mga kamay na minsang nilimas ang iyong kapayakan,
Hindi kailanman mabubura ang karumaldumal na kalupitang iniwan nila.

Kailangan mo lamang ng isang taong tutunghay,
Na titimbangin ang bawat hibla ng iyong kwento,
Dahil sa sandaling iyon,
Makikita nila kung sino ang karapat-dapat na tawaging
Balahura.

_

Sa pagdiriwang natin ng National Campus Press Freedom Day, inihahandog ng The Work, ang opisyal na pamahayagang pangkampus ng Tarlac State University, ang espesyal na isyu ng OBRA | Mini-Zine: Balahura.

Kailanman ay hindi magwawagi ang dilim sa pagtago ng umaalingasaw na katotohanan. Patuloy nitong huhukayin pataas ang lupa, sa ispirito ng kalayaan, at sa tapang ng mga estudyanteng mamamahayag.

OBRA | Mini-Zine: Balahura out now! 🐗
https://bit.ly/MinizineBalahura

30/08/2025

Sa patuloy na paglobo ng mga kaso patungkol sa red-tagging, pagsensura, pagpapataw ng kaso, at pagkitil sa mga mamamahayag, huwag matakot magsiwalat ng katotohanan, panagutin, at kalampagin ang sistema at pang-aabuso ng naghaharing-uri.

Sa maraming tala ng paglabag sa karapatan ng malayang pamamahayag, nakikiisa ang publikasyon ng The Work na palakasin ang esensya ng pamamahayag upang patuloy na magbalita ng danas ng maraming Pilipino. Kinokondena ng publikasyon ang iba’t ibang uri ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao kabilang na ang kaliwa’t kanang pagpatay sa mga Palestinong mamamahayag.

Sa patuloy na pamamasista ng estado at pagmamanipula sa mga impormasyon, ginugunita ngayong araw ang malaya’t mapagpalayang pamamahayag. Dahil ang paninikil sa karapatan ng peryodismo ay pagbusal sa naratibo ng katotohanan. Ang pahayagan ay kritikal, mapagmulat, at daluyan ng demokrasyang nagmamartsa tungo sa masa.

At sa panahong may tanikala sa leeg ang mga mamamahayag at walang takot na binabagtas ang pulitikal na tunggalian, may tagong rebolusyon sa pagsusulat hangga’t hindi lumalaya ang mga peryodista sa pananamantala.

_______

Inilapat ni Rhian Justine Dela Cruz
Mga Larawan mula sa inkl, Human Rights Watch, The Defiant

30/08/2025

𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒 | Tarlac State University (TSU) hosted this year’s 4th Young Journalist Press Freedom Congress (YJPFC) at the Priscilla Hall, University - Lucinda Campus, August 29.

With the theme “Burning Ink: Young Journalist as Torchbearer of Truth”, it was attended by a total of 390 campus journalists from 37 participating student publications across Central Luzon.

They competed in four group categories including E-Magazine, Social Media Page, Vertical Short-Form Video, News Broadcast Production, and the newly introduced individual categories, namely Journalistic Position Paper Writing and Literary Art Painting.

Furthermore, 10 Outstanding Tertiary Campus Journalists (OTCJ) were recognized and awarded with plaques and medals.

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Photos by Alejandro Enjambre, Alyssa Cerezo, and Clarisse Ekstrom

29/08/2025

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖 | Campus journalists of Central Luzon blazed their way forward in this year's 4th Congress (YJPFC) with the theme “Burning Ink: Campus Journalists as Torchbearers of Truth” at the Priscilla Hall, Tarlac State University Hotel - Lucinda Campus, today.

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Report by Kate Aira Mendoza
Photos by Alejandro Enjambre

29/08/2025

𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄, 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒!

The power to start a revolution starts in the humble journey of learning and upholding journalism.

With the theme “Burning Ink: Campus Journalists as Torch Bearers of Truth,” the 4th Young Journalist Press Freedom Congress (YJPFC) starts the embers here at Tarlac State University - Lucinda Campus, today.

Continue to spark the change and ignite the essence of press freedom. Serve the people, Central Luzon!

Sumulat. Mag-ulat. Para sa bayan.

28/08/2025

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 | CEGP, Kabataan Party-list refiles 14-year-shelved House bill strengthening campus journ act

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), together with the Kabataan Party-list (KPL), refiled the Campus Press Freedom Bill, a 14-year-old bill which seeks to repeal and strengthen the “insufficient and toothless” Republic Act No. 7079 or the “Campus Journalism Act (CJA) of 1991”, at the House of Representatives, August 28.

This came after CEGP, the sole and broadest alliance of collegiate student publications in the Asia-Pacific, reported around 206 campus press freedom violations (CPFVs), including but not limited to censorship, administrative intervention, restricted access to funding, red-tagging, and state surveillance from July 2023 to June 2024.

With the continuous rise of CPFV cases, press freedom advocates have joined the call to immediately pass HB 1155, a bill shelved for 14 years in Congress.

The CJA of 1991, supposedly championing the welfare and rights of student journalists, has instead been weaponized against the very demographic it was supposed to protect and empower. It was found to have been “insufficient and lacking in material aspects to fully maintain the existence of the campus press, and protect the rights and welfare of student journalists.”

In addition, CEGP’s position paper argued that such an Act “impedes fiscal autonomy of student publications” as none of them have been “free and independent in accessing their financial operations, amid awareness of publication fees paid by every student.”

Meanwhile, some of its loopholes include the legalization of non-mandatory collection of publication fees and Section 7 of the law states that student-journalists are generally protected and cannot be suspended or expelled for their writing, but the 2000 Supreme Court ruling created an exception where “material disruption of class work or involving substantial disorder or invasion of the rights of others.”

Additionally, the law does not require the compulsory establishment of student publications in universities and colleges, as well as reopenings of closed publications, and vague penalties for violation cases.

Furthermore, the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (DECS) Order No. 94, Series of 1992 contain only simple guidelines and cannot legally alter the original law.

This means that its IRR cannot be made broader or narrower, enforcing the law as is. Therefore, if the original law has weaknesses, it will be reflected in the rules of its implementation.

The refiled bill, seeks to resolve such ambiguities by the mandatory establishment of student publications, recognition of student publications as autonomous student institutions, mandatory funding primarily sourced from student publication fees, administrative sanctions on campus press freedom violations, and penalties to hold campus press freedom violators accountable.

“Beyond awaiting the bill’s progress in Congress, the campus press’s unwavering commitment to truth and justice must propel its campaign into the streets—mobilizing more students and communities to actively defend their rights and welfare, and holding state actors accountable for their attacks on our education,” CEGP wrote in a Facebook post.

The Bill was first filed in 2011 by KPL Rep. Raymond V. Palatino and Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Teddy A. Casiño and has been refiled multiple times since then, pursued by KPL Rep. Raoul Manuel in the 19th Congress.

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Report by Clarisse Fajardo and Andrei Opeña
Photo from MJ Urubio, FEU Advocate
Layout by Rhian Justine Dela Cruz and Wildred Lamintao

Address

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Tarlac
2300

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Wednesday	8am - 6pm
Thursday	8am - 6pm
Friday	8am - 6pm

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THE WORK is the official student publication of Tarlac State University. Founded in 1948, it is one of the oldest student-run newspapers in the region.

The publication releases its regular issues in various formats including tabloid, newsletter, and magazine. Its literary folio, Obra, is also published every year along with other special issues such as comprehensive coverages of student elections and sporting events.

The Work is a two-time Best Performing Publication in the Regional Higher Education Press Conference (RHEPC) and is the recipient of the Best Publication award at the 6th Gawad Jemalyn Lacadin, a regional biennial event organized by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.

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Tarlac State University - The Work

02/09/2025

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01/09/2025

31/08/2025

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29/08/2025

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28/08/2025

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