Intended to empower student legislators under its department, the Samahan ng Mga Mag-Aaral ng Pamantasang Ateneo de Davao (SAMAHAN) Office of the Vice President conducted the SAnay: The 4th Student Assembly Capacity Building and Pinning, enabling members to exercise their voting rights, draft legislation, and effectively represent their respective clusters and sectors.

SAMAHAN Vice President Sung Goon Acosta explained that the training aimed to enhance the students’ abilities to carry out their duties efficiently while empowering the student legislators by highlighting their responsibilities.

“The Student Assembly, as a newly established branch of our student government, seeks to address the initial challenge of building its capacity to effectively perform its functions… SAnay aims to inspire and empower our student legislators by emphasizing their crucial roles and responsibilities, ensuring they are well-prepared to lead and serve our community,” Acosta said.

Acosta said that during the capacity building, the participants were taught how to craft and implement legislations needed by the student body.

“We train[ed] them in utilizing parliamentary rules and procedures to ensure their voices are heard and their proposals are effectively advocated for during the plenary sessions that will be conducted all throughout the academic year.”

Additionally, Acosta attributed the motivation for SAnay ’24 to the previous legislative training held in the academic year 2022-2023.

“During the term of SAMAHAN Vice President Mary Niñalyn Espuelas, a training program was conducted as well for the members of the third student assembly, and as a result, they successfully fulfilled their constitutional responsibilities and proactively lobbied for initiatives such as a public safety seminar for university students,” Acosta said.

Furthermore, Most Outstanding Student Legislator and Best in Resolution Making Awardee Naomi Grace Lanzo, believed that the skills garnered from the training will guide her in effectively advocating for the concerns of students, despite being new to legislation work.

“I see the knowledge I acquired from SAnay as a foundation for ongoing learning and growth… Representing the Natural Sciences and Mathematics cluster during the student assembly, I aim to foster an open dialogue between my fellow assembly members and embrace a proactive, learner-centric approach,” Lanzo expressed.

Lanzo also stated that the training laid the groundwork for effective representation of the best interests and diverse needs of each sector, where the legislative department can provide assistance and tangible solutions.

“The diversity among representatives from different clusters and sectors was designed to be inclusive and accommodating, fostering richer discussions and leading to more inclusive policies and initiatives that resonate with the entire student body.”

During the three-day event, the attendees of SAnay ‘24 were taught how to write effective laws and use of parliamentary norms and procedures, preparing them in the plenary sessions that will take place during this coming academic year.

SAnay: The 4th Student Assembly Capacity Building and Pinning was held on July 15-17, 2024 at the Ateneo de Davao University.