Voting is underway on Tuesday, October 29, at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman as students participate in the special elections for the University Student Council (USC). The election, which will run until Wednesday, October 30, precedes the upcoming Hallowtide break beginning Thursday.
This special election follows the regular USC elections held in May, in which no candidates were elected to the key positions of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, or Councilors, as most students opted to abstain. Only College Representatives from select colleges were successfully elected during the regular elections, creating the need for this special round of voting.
Initially set for October 24-25, the special elections were postponed following requests to extend the campaign period.
Running for Chairperson are Sean Kirby Latorre and Franz Andrew Ronquillo, both from the College of Mass Communication and both independent candidates.
For Vice Chairperson, the candidates are Franz Joseph Beltran from the National College of Public Administration and Governance and Ron Dexter Clemente from the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), both running as independents. College of Engineering student Therese Jan Mangussad is also vying for the position as UP Alyansa’s lone candidate.
Councilor candidates include Joaquin Buenaflor and Kristian Martin Mendoza from CSSP, along with Olivia Herrera, Ramon Christian Placido, and Aimee Denise Ramos from the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), all running independently.
The candidates for College Representative to the USC are Ruver Matther Abanto for the College of Science, Nimra Urielle Gonzalez for CAL, and Arrianel Manoos for the College of Home Economics, all as independent candidates.
Student voters can access the online ballots through halalan.upd.edu.ph using their UP mail.
The canvassing of votes and proclamation of winners are scheduled for October 30.
The University Student Electoral Tribunal will accept post-election protests from October 30 to November 8, with a session from November 4 to 8 to address any issues raised.
Elected candidates are expected to take office during a turnover and oath-taking ceremony on November 18.