SCOMELEC pushes for F2F events in 2025 USC, LSC elections; New vote of confidence policy to be introduced

In a bid to strengthen student engagement, the Student Commission on Election (SCOMELEC) of Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) announced its plan to conduct more face-to-face activities for the upcoming 2025 University Student Council (USC) and Local Student Council (LSC) elections.

“As much as possible, ‘no—since we’re already conducting almost a full face-to-face classes, except for asynchronous classes kapag meron talagang power interruption, ‘no—as SCOMELEC 2025, we are striving hard na ituloy talaga ng face-to-face lahat ng events natin, including this closed-door interview, which was conducted online last time by the SCOMELEC 2024 if I’m not mistaken,” SCOMELEC Chairperson Alexander Dabu told The Industrialist on Monday.

She explained that this initiative is intended to increase accessibility and allow students to feel more included in the electoral processes that the commission is about to conduct.

“The SCOMELEC 2025 is really striving hard na i-push through ng face-to-face yung mga events natin para mas maging accessible din siya sa mga students at para mas dama din siya ng mga botante,” the chairperson added.

Meanwhile, Dabu shared that poor working conditions were among the reasons why the previous commission faced challenges in conducting in-person activities.

“‘Yung last time din kasi kaya hindi rin na-reach yung target na botante natin or bilang ng botante is because of the mode din, which is wala din naman tayong choice kasi noong last time hindi rin ganoon kaganda ‘yung working conditions natin in terms of the electoral process,” she noted.

Aside from pushing face-to-face activities, the SCOMELEC is working on enhancing its existing policies, including the constitution and by-laws (CBL), which is set to be implemented this year.

Dabu also mentioned that a board-approved resolution will soon be released that aims to raise the standard for the vote of confidence required for unopposed candidates.

“Meron din, of course, kaming ire-release na board-approved resolution, which increases or actually raises the bar in terms of the vote of confidence sa mga unopposed candidates natin, ‘no—that will be 50% plus one vote of candidates. Although we have not released an official statement yet, but we are sure na this year mai-implement na siya because it was already approved hanggang sa board of the regents natin,” she said.

The commission’s revised CBL will be made public once officially signed and ratified.