After the fast-paced transition of events last semester, the Samahan ng Mga Mag-Aaral ng Pamantasang Ateneo de Davao (SAMAHAN) zeroed in on accomplishment report and aired student body matters with the university administrators during this year’s State of the SAMAHAN Address (SOSA) and the SAMAHAN Town Hall.
SAMAHAN President Hannah Aquino highlighted Ateneo Caravan: Adulting on the Move as one of her administration’s flagship initiatives to equip students for “life after college.”
“With the Ateneo Caravan, we opened our doors in bringing together partner agencies to make government services from the SSS, PhilHealth, PAG-IBIG, LTO, and the like to the Ateneo community and the wider public,” she said.
She also cited the establishment of the SAMAHAN Multisectoral Council, a newly formed department within the student government, that forwarded the implementation of a Muslim-friendly policy in the university cafeteria, particularly regarding pork-related dietary restrictions.
“We are also happy to announce that after lobbying to the food court last semester, the resolution from the assembly to mandate the pork-free labels in the food court is now in place.”
Other initiatives highlighted during the SOSA included the successful enactment of the revised dress code in partnership with the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), the participation in the Fortiores 2030 convocation, the SAMASYNC centralized calendar, the Department of Academic Affairs (DAA) Help Desk, Ateneo All-Access Resources, the Upskills Cabin, the Academic Walkout Against Corruption, and the recently concluded JUMPSTART 2025.
Overall, SAMAHAN tallied 10 projects, 27 events, 18 resolutions, and the passage of 3 bills within the six-month term; however, only 17 resolutions and 2 bills were publicized.
Univ admin invites inquiries on pressing issues
Meanwhile, university administrators, alongside the SAMAHAN President, addressed questions submitted by students through Google Forms.
On the current fixed scheduling system, Vice President for Higher Education Fr. Tony Basilio, SJ, defended its value in guaranteeing enrollment slots for regular students, despite reduced flexibility.
“We have trade-offs. When we allow that, we cannot assure the enrollment of all regular students…If we take that away and allow pre-registration of everyone and anyone, then that will be taken away. That will be difficult. In other systems, they do not have that assurance… As of now, we hold that at a higher priority. You can still register, you can still add and drop, but within certain conditions,” he answered.
University Information Technology Office (UITO) Director Fr. Charlie Cenzon, SJ, tackled spotty Wi-Fi coverage campus-wide, recounting a failed experiment with single access points for multiple classrooms.
“Once you’re inside the classroom, depending on the quality or the material of the walls from between the classroom and the corridor grave, so there’s an attenuation of signal. Concrete is not good. Glass is not good,” he stated.
He added that because of the said attenuation, they are currently prioritizing target classrooms, labs, and offices first.
“…Most of the classrooms now have it; ang wala na lang, would be outside. At least a lot of major common areas like here [Arrupe Hall], the gazebo, meron. So, I guess ‘yung ibang mga corners na hindi naman classroom—kulang pa ang Wi-Fi access points natin. Most of the laboratories still don’t have it [and] a good number of offices… so, ‘yun muna ang priority namin.”
Physical Plant Office (PPO) Director Tender Grace Ferolin confirmed preparations for a new elevator in the Jubilee building are underway due to its non-operation.
“Right now, it’s being prepared to accommodate the new elevator that will be installed. We were hoping that it will be functional before the second semester. Unfortunately, naay delays because one of the problems was there was water pala in the elevator shaft that we have to take out and it has to be completely dried before we can install the new one,” she explained.
Vice President for Finance and University Treasurer Jimmy Delgado clarified the 40% utilization rate of the Global Citizenship Fee, noting projections for second semester international trips and carryover provisions.
“…Normally, students who go out of the country for their international study visit are in the second semester. But the safeguard here is whatever is left at the end of the year will not be closed. It would be carried over for the succeeding years because we can never know if there are more students who will go out of the country to either compete or visit. So, rest assured, we will fully use it up for student support.”
The SOSA and SAMAHAN Townhall presided on December 17 at Arrupe Hall and livestreamed via Ateneo de Davao University Facebook page.