Local education duty-bearers were convened in a Save A Seat (SAS) Summit held on June 6, 2025 in Bai Hotel, Mandaue City. Organized by Multiply-Ed Cebu, the SAS Summit is a follow-up to the Save A Seat Conference held on November 25-27, 2024. This also kicks off the local SAS capacity-building workshops for Junior and Senior High School student leaders in X-Ed sites for the coming months.
SAS deems student representation crucial in addressing persisting issues and problems in education and public health services. The campaign calls for local duty-bearers to commit to drafting and passing an ordinance guaranteeing a position for students and student leaders from Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG) Federations among other advocacies, such as the proper utilization of the Special Education Fund and functionality of special bodies. As primary stakeholders and beneficiaries in schools, students are poised to elevate their needs and insights in prioritizing legislation and budget for education reform.
The campaign aims to continue its winning streak beginning in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental where a historic first ordinance was enacted for LSB student representation. Now, other Multiply-Ed sites are pushing for their local governments to follow suit in the province of Cebu and the tri-cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu City.
The local summit in Cebu was attended by duty-bearers who support X-Ed’s call for student representation in local special bodies. Present were Cebu City Councilor-elect Atty. Mikel Rama, Councilor-elect Nice Archival, Ms. Shyne Alexis Embalsado (legislative staff of Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Anabeth Cuizon), and Mx. Miriam Alejandrino of the Youth Formation Division of the Department of Education (DepEd)-Mandaue City.
Ms. Embalsado expressed support for the passage of X-Ed’s proposed policies. She shared that Lapu-lapu City has already expanded its Local School Board and encouraged its SSLGs to organize so that they can be included.
Atty. Rama made the assurance that he will be X-Ed’s ally and expressed openness in lobbying for the passage of the ordinance as he begins his upcoming term.
“Sa kining programa na duso gyud nga naay student representation sa mga Special Bodies usa sa Local School Board, usa dyud ni ka lakang diha padong sa good governance…Makasigurado ko nga ato dyud kining ipahibaw dito sa Sanggunian,” he said. (This program that we are pushing for, for student representation in special bodies, is a big step towards good governance…I will make sure that this is introduced in the City Council.)
For her part, Councilor-elect Archival pledged to champion youth concerns in the Council. On the other hand, Ms. Alejandrino assured participants that DepEd Mandaue will support the proposal.
The Summit included students, teachers, and parents from X-Ed schools in Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue, and the Municipality of Balamban. They expressed the importance of the campaign since it highlights the principle of participation. They pointed out that despite their willingness to lead, students are often excluded from discussions involving the allocation of sufficient learning resources, manpower, and facilities. All these have a tremendous impact on learning, yet they remain unaddressed.
Other officials from the Sangguniang Kabataan of Calamba, SSLG Advisers and Officers from Pajo National High School, Jose Chona Jo Memorial National High School, and Gaas National High School showed solidarity with the campaign, amplifying the call for student representation. They gave a solidarity message, and pledged to pressure their local councilors as soon as the terms of newly elected officials begin on June 30.
Both participants and duty-bearers promised to take practical and strategic steps to advance the campaign, hoping that these would lead to lasting education reforms in Cebu province and the tri-cities.
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