1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE

COLLEGE EDITORS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINESPreamble

WE, THE MEMBERS of the Campus Press, imploring the aid of the Divine Providence, in order to form a body that shall be the national center of the campus press freedom, uphold the highest standards and ethics of journalism, defend and assert students’ and peoples’ rights and welfare, strive for a nationalist, scientific and mass-based culture and education, and for strive for the patriotic and democratic aspirations of the students and the people, do hereby ordain and promulgate the Constitution. Declaration of Principles: The Freedom of the Press

The freedom of the Press.

The people have the right to know.

The people have the right to freedom of thought, and expression, to hold opinions free from any interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media.

The freedom of the press is the veritable pillar that holds up the inviolable right of the people to know. Where the state controls and manipulates the mass media, where the dictates of the ruling few prevail over the will of the people, where foreign vested interests, mainly US, plunders the economy, where the regime seeks violence to quell popular dissent, the press has the sacred duty to struggle for the truth side by side the people.

We shall go on and unflinchingly fight for the freedom of the press and the right of the people to know against all forces that seek to undermine truth, freedom, justice and democracy.

This is the commitment of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.

Article IName, Scope, Motto, Seal, Color and Domicile

Section 1. Name. This organization shall be called the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Inc. or CEGP.

Section 2. Scope. The CEGP shall have priority over all the tertiary campus publications in the Philippines. It shall also strive to extend all sort of assistance to student publications at the secondary level.

Section 3. Motto. “To write is already to choose.”

Section 4. Seal. Its seal shall be an encircled quill with the acronym CEGP written just below it.

Section 5. Color. The official color shall be green and white.

Section 6. Domicile. The national office shall be located in Metro Manila.

Article IIObjectives

Section 1. To work for the professionalization and independence of the Campus Press. Uphold the highest standards and ethics of journalism.

Section 2. To defend and advance campus press freedom and other students’ democratic rights and welfare at all levels.

Section 3. To promote social consciousness among the campus journalists and the Filipino people in general.

Section 4. To defend and advance the people’s rights and welfare and to actively participate in their struggles.

Sections 5. To promote understanding and cooperation with organizations and individuals here and abroad with similar objectives.

SECTION 7. To support the members of the professional press in their struggle for genuine press freedom.

Article IIIMembership

SECTION 1. Membership in the CEGP shall be open to any student publication of a college or university, vocational or technical school, seminary or convent.

SECTION 2. Application for membership may be filed with either a CEGP provincial chapter or with the National Student Press Congress. The National Student Press Congress, through two-third (2/3) vote of the full-pledged member publication present, be the sole authority to grant full membership and shall finally approve, probationary membership granted by the provincial chapters.

SECTION 3. A membership fee, to be determined by the National Council prior to the holding of the National Congress, shall be paid annually by every member publication either during the National Student Press Congress, Convention or through any member of the National Council.

Article IVRights and Privileges of Members

SECTION 1. Every member publication shall have the following rights and privileges:

a. to be informed fully of all the affairs of the CEGP and the reasons for policies, programs, projects and actions as may be adopted its policy-making bodies;

b. to be represented by their fully chosen delegates during the National Student Press Congress and other activities;

c. to participate in discussions and debates, submit resolutions and suggestions to have any dissenting opinion and the reasons thereof be recorded;

d. to be elected into office;e. to have access into records, financial or otherwise, of the organization;f. to avail the services/assistance as maybe rendered by the CEGP;g. to enjoy such other rights and privileges that the National Student Press Congress may grant.

SECTION 2. Each member publication present during the National Student Press Congress shall be entitled to one vote.

Article VDuties and Responsibilities of Members

SECTION 1. Every member shall abide by the following duties and responsibilities:

a. to uphold the Constitution of the CEGP;b. to abide by the policies, decisions and regulations which may be promulgated by all policy-

making and governing bodies of the CEGP;c. to participate in all programs, projects and actions adopted by the CEGP;d. to adhere to the principles and pursue the objectives of the CEGP;e. to provide space and feature the positions taken by CEGP on the national and sectoral issues;

and f. to pay dues and other fees promptly.

Article VIThe National Student Press Congress

SECTION 1. The National Student Press Congress shall be the highest policy-making and governing body of the CEGP.

SECTION 2. The National Student Press congress shall have the following powers and functions:

a. elect the National President and Vice-President for Luzon, Vice-President for Visayas, and Vice-President for Mindanao;

b. approve the general program of action and budget;c. adopt resolutions and positions on national and sectoral issues;d. grant full membership and to ratify probationary membership given by provincial congresses.e. Decide finally on impeachment tribunal of the National Office or case of suspension or expulsion

brought to it by the same body;f. Determine monies due from member publications;g. Approve amendments to or a revision of this Constitution; andh. Discuss and approve other matters that shall be presented to it by the National Executive

Committee or the National Council.

SECTION 3. The National Student Press Congress shall be composed of all delegates of member publication present during its sessions. SECTION 4. The National Student Press Congress shall be convened once every two (2) years during summer vacation or at any date to be determined by the National Council.

SECTION 5. A special session of the National Student Press Congress may be convened upon request through two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members of the National Council.

SECTION 6. The National Secretary General, with the assistance of the staff of the national Executive Committee, shall keep and preserve the minutes of the proceedings of the National Student Press Congress in sessions assembled.

Article VIINational Student Press Convention

SECTION 1. The National Convention shall be the education festival of the CEGP and shall feature journalism lectures and workshops and discussions of national and sectoral issues. It shall have the power to act on issues resolutions as proposed by the National Executive Committee.

SECTION 2. The National Convention shall be convened annually during summer vacation or at nay date determined by the National Council. It shall be held in between National Congresses.

Article VIIIThe National Council

SECTION 1. Function. The National Council shall be the second highest policy-making and governing body of the CEGP. It shall be convened when the National Student Press Congress is not in session.

SECTION 2. The National Council shall have the following powers and functions:

a. assist the National Executive Committee in the implementation of the General Program of Action approved by the National Student Press Congress;

b. draft and implement specific plans and policies governing CEGP activities from the national to publication level;

c. adopt resolutions and positions on national and sectoral issues;d. draft assessment criteria and implement the same for the provincial chapters;e. form a tribunal in cases of impeachment and recommend appropriate action to the National

Student Press Congress; andf. act on matters to be raised by the National Executive Committee and provincial chapters.

SECTION 3. The National Council shall be composed of all elected and appointed national, regional, provincial or city-level leaders.

The National Council shall convene at least once a year. In emergency cases, the National Executive Committee shall be empowered to call a meeting of the National Council.

Article IXThe National Executive Committee

SECTION 1. The National Executive Committee shall be:

a. the overall administrative, executive and overseeing body of the CEGP;b. the governing body when the National Congress and the National Council is not in session; andc. national campaign center of the CEGP.

SECTION 2. The National Executive Committee shall have the following powers and duties:

a. propose a general plan of action to and implement the approved plans of the National Student Press Congress;

b. enforce the National Constitution and formulate the by-laws that govern the administration of the CEGP;

c. report on the national situation of the CEGP to the National Council and to the National Student Press Congress;

d. supervise and coordinate activities of regional and provincial chapters to maintain communication with them;

e. to prepare the agenda and convene the National Council and the National Student Press Congress; and

f. define the position of the CEGP on the vital and urgent national and sectoral issues.

SECTION 3. The National Executive Committee shall be composed of the National President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary General and other officers to be appointed by the President.

SECTION 4. Officers of the NEC shall hold office for two (2) years.

Article XFunctions, Powers, and Duties of the National Officers

SECTION 1. The National President of the CEGP shall have the following functions, powers and duties:

a. preside over all meetings and sessions of the National Executive Committee and National Council. He/She shall also preside over all meetings and sessions of the National Student Press Congress except when a case of impeachment is pending against him/her or he/she is a party to the question or issues to be resolved;

b. act as National Spokesperson and chief representative in meetings with other organizations here and abroad;

c. report to the National Student Press Convention in behalf of the National Executive Committee and the National Council;

d. appoint the Secretary General;e. create committees and appoint officers and members thereof with the concurrence of the National

Executive Committee;f. suspend or recommend the expulsion of erring individual members and member publications to

the National Student Press Congress;g. call for special elections if the need arises; and h. in cases of temporary absence, appoint representatives who shall discharge his/her duties in

his/her behalf.

SECTION 2. The Vice-President for Luzon, Vice-President for Visayas and the Vice-President for Mindanao shall have the following functions, powers and duties:

a. supervise and oversee the consolidation of chapters, facilitate the building of new chapters from ad hoc committees and open up contacts with new member publications;

b. Act as chief liaison between the National Executive Committee and the National Council and the member publications;

c. Assist the National President in the enforcement of the National constitution and implementation of policies and organizational by-laws and regulations; and

d. Fulfill other duties and responsibilities to be given by the National President, the National Council or the National Student Press Congress.

SECTION 3. The Secretary General, to be appointed by the National President, shall have the following functions, powers and duties:

a. Assist the National President and the Vice-Presidents in their tasks especially in the maintenance and setting up of chapters nationwide;

b. Open up and maintain, under the guidance of the national Executive committee, working relations with organizations here and abroad;

c. take custody, with the assistance of the staff of the National Executive Committee, of all papers and documents of all meetings and sessions of the National Executive Committee, National Council, and the National Student Press Congress; and

d. fulfill other duties and responsibilities to be given by the National Council or the National Student Press Congress.

SECTION 4. In case of accident or death of the National President, he/she shall be immediately replaced by the Vice-President for Luzon until such time that the National Council convenes to appoint the new National President.

Article XIChapters

SECTION 1. A provincial chapter may be established by at least three student publications. The National Executive Committee and the National Council shall oversee and ensure the establishment of provincial chapters nationwide.

SECTION 2. The provincial congresses and the provincial executive committees shall be principal organs of the chapters. The chapters shall have their own organizational structure depending on the condition of the region.

SECTION 3. the provincial executive committees shall have the following functions and duties:

a. spearhead and supervise the holding of CEGP activities;b. maintain communication with member publications and the National Executive Committee;c. implement policies and programs and ensure the dissemination of the positions of the CEGP as

approved by the National Executive Committee, National Council or the National Student Press Congress;

d. regularly report on the progress and condition of the chapter to the National Executive Committee and the National Council; and

e. other duties and functions to be determined by the National Executive Committee, National Council and the National Student Press Congress.

SECTION 4. Any provincial chapter may formulate their own Constitution provided it does not contravene any provision of the National Constitution. Specific plans and policies governing provincial chapters and the formation and maintenance shall be drafted, approved and enforced by the National Executive Committee and/or by the National Council.

SECTION 5. Provincial congresses in the sessions assembled may grant probationary membership to any interested student publication.

SECTION 6. Provincial Congresses and executive committees shall endeavor and ensure the remittance thereof to the National Executive Committee. At the option of provincial congress, chapters may determine and collect their own separate membership fees.

Article XIIElection of Officers and the COMELEC

SECTION 1. The National Student Press Congress shall elect the President, Vice-President for Luzon, vice-President for Visayas, and the Vice-President for Mindanao.

SECTION 2. All elective national officers shall be elected by the official voting delegates of member publications through secret balloting. Each member publication shall be entitled to one vote.

SECTION 3. No one may be elected President or Vice-President unless he/she shall have been a member of the CEGP for at least one semester and whose nominations must be endorsed by at least five full-pledged member publications.

SECTION 4. COMELEC. There shall be a Commission on Election (COMELEC) composed of a chairman and three (3) members who shall be appointed by the national president.

SECTION 5. The three members shall each come from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. They shall have the following power, duties and functions:

a. formulate the rules and regulations governing the conduct of elections, provided , however that such rules and regulations shall not in any way contravene any provisions of this constitution;

b. to have exclusive charge of the enforcement and administration of the election;c. to receive all certificates of candidacy and to certify the qualifications of candidates and;d. to proclaim the winners of all elections right after the counting of ballots.

Article XIIIImpeachment

SECTION 1. The President, the Vice President for Luzon, Vice President for Visayas, Vice President for Mindanao and members of the COMELEC may be impeached.

SECTION 2.No impeachment proceedings may be initiated except upon a petition of at least twenty-(20) member publications o a majority of the National Council on the following grounds:

a. culpable violation of the National Constution;b. neglect of dutyc. acts inimical to the objectives of the organization;d. gross misconduct and immorality

SECTION 3. Upon the filing of the petition, the National Council shall constitute an impeachment tribunal. It shall conduct fair trial and due process.

Article XIVOfficial Publications

SECTION 1. The National Guilder shall be the official organizational publication of the CEGP. The President shall be the editor-in-chief and shall appoint members of the editorial staff.

SECTION 2. The Kartilya shall be the official political journal of the CEGP. It shall be edited and managed by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

SECTION 3. Provincial chapters may publish their own publications.

Article XVAmendments

SECTION 1. This National Constitution may be amended in whole or in part by the submission of written proposals of such amendment to the National Council by at least ten (10) member publishers.

SECTION 2. Any proposed amendment shall be approved by two thirds (2/3) of all member publications present during the National Student Press Congress.

Article XVIEffectively Clause

SECTION 1. This National Constitution shall take effect immediately upon the approval of two thirds (2/3) vote of the National Student Press Congress.

APPROVED BY the 29th National Student Press Congress at Punta Isla, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato on May 22-27, 1998