2010-2011

CEAP shall take the lead in public policy development especially in the area of Catholic Education.

It shall build a network of educators, advocates and legal luminaries who shall steer the public policy development and advocacy programs and initiatives of the Association.

Synergy between the center and the regions.

Statements were released for the period September 2010 to August 2011.

Copies of statements have been given to government, media other educational institutions and other partners.

May be downloaded from the CEAP main website.

Remembering with Anguish and Pain: A Call for Justice for the Victims of the Maguindanao Massacre

CEAP Statement on the Maguindanao Massacre

November 23, 2010

“We demand that our civilian and military authorities apply the full force of the law without fear or favor to this case, and bring to justice those responsible for this brutality.”

In Defense of Honesty and Integrity

CEAP’s Statement on the issue of plagiarism in the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Vinuyavs. Executive Secretary

9 November 2010

“The Supreme Court’s decision abets a culture of intellectual sloth and dishonesty. For plagiarism is not only a legal issue but more importantly, a moral one.”

Exemplifying Obedience to the Gospel – Being “Salt of the Earth” and “Light of the World” Support for Heidi L. Mendoza, Lt. Col. George A.

Rabusa and Lt. Col. Antonio Ramon A. Lim

8 February 2011

“We appeal to our government and its law enforcement agencies to ensure that those who dared speak to reveal the truth be protected. We appeal to the judiciary, and particularly the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan, to uphold the truth without fear or favour.”

Heeding the Escalating Clamour for Truth and Justice

Impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas N. Gutierrez

9 March 2011

“We, the members of CEAP, strongly call for a speedy, fair and decisive conduct of the impeachment proceedings. Corruption must be impeached mercilessly.”

Let Justice be the Tie that Binds Us as a Nation: No to a Hero’s Burial for Marcos! Statement on House Resolution 1135

6 April 2011

“How can we bury among our heroes the very man whose dictatorial regime we rejected and ousted during the EDSA people power revolution 25 years ago? It will be nothing less than a desecration and nullification of the Filipino people’s long struggle and victory for democracy which we are proud to have gifted the world as an example of non‐violent political change”

And They Spat at Him

A statement of CEAP on the Exhibit “Politieismo”

15 August 2011

“We are deeply saddened, hurt and insulted. The exhibit is an act of vandalism not simply of the sacred images and icons of our Catholic and Christian heritage. ‘Politeismo’ is a vandalizationof our Faith and desecration of our Lord. ”

Seek Peace.. Pursue It! Statement of support for lasting peace in

Mindanao

30 August 2011

“All sectors of society in the Philippines are, then, urged to lend support to this transparent and democratic process that can pave the way to lasting peace in Mindanao.. May the needed national peace accord be forged at the earliest time possible!”

CEAP continues to serve as lead association in the area of Advocacy and Engaged Citizenship for COCOPEA.

CEAP working closely with COCOPEA in consultation efforts on the K to 12 and regionalization efforts of COCOPEA.

COCOPEA initiated dialogues with DepEd’sBr. Armin Luistro, CHED’s Dr. Patricia Licuanan ,TESDA’s Joel Villanueva and officials of PRC resulting to:▪ Inclusion of COCOPEA in K to 12 Steering Committee

and TWGs

▪ Constituting of a TESDA-COCOPEA Task Force

▪ COCOPEA inputs in the revised Manual of Regulations for Private Schools in Basic Education

▪ Implementation details and legislative support for K to 12.

Rep. Salvador Escudero III (Sorsogon, 1st District), Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara (Aurora, Lone District), Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar (ZamboangaCity, 1st District), Rep. Antonio Tinio (PL-ACT Teachers), Rep. Mariano Piamonte (PL-A TEACHER), Rep. Fatima Aliah Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte, 2nd District), Representatives of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Edgardo Angara.

Held at the Hotel Sofitel, 8 February 2011

CEAP Presented 3 policy concerns for the consideration and support of the legislators:

Amendment to the PRC Modernization Act of 2000

Amendments to the EGASTPE* Law

K to 12 Legislation or the Enhanced Basic Curriculum Act of 2011

Resulting from this Discussion, the same congressmen filed the following bills:

HB 4198 “An Act Amending Section 11 of Republic Act 8981 otherwise known as the Professional Regulation Commission Modernization Act of 2000.

HB 4199 “an Act Enhancing and Increasing the Number of Years for Basic Education” (Escudero)

HB 4219 “an Act Enhancing the Curriculum and Increasing the Number of Years for Basic Education.” (Belmonte)

Opposition to SB 489 – An Act Strengthening the CHED

Removes academic and experiential qualifications of the commissioners

Places substantial power in the Executive Director

Effectively removes efficient collegial governance by CHED

NAC submitted a position paper to the Office of Sen. Gringo Honasan on the various objectionable provisions in the Magna Carta Bill Right to choose a field of study and remain there up

until graduation

One student representative for the screening of incoming faculty members

Representation in the highest policy-making body

Creation of a school board fee restricting the right of the school to impose fees subject to reasonable limitations

Students Rights and Welfare Bill (HB 2190 and SB 1475)

A softer version of the Magna Carta for Students.

A position paper has likewise been prepared by COCOPEA with CEAP-NAC additional inputs addressing the questionable provisions of the bill as the latter restricts the constitutionally protected “academic freedom” of private educational institutions.

CEAP sought for status quo on the ESC guidelines, additional ESC slots and increased ESC grants.

Amendments in the implementing guidelines detrimental to small and financially-challenged private schools.

CEAP sought for the suspension of the “veto” of the President pertaining to EGASTPE. Affected direct subsidy to private schools

NAC wrote letters to the President, Chief Justice, Senate President and Speaker of the House to support its implementation.

Once implemented, Family courts shall be properly equipped to facilitate the appropriate justice and healing for victims of VAWC.

Favorable responses coming from the legal affairs office of the President, Office of the Court Administrator – Supreme Court, House of Representatives

CEAP and COCOPEA submitted a position paper to the Senate Committee on Education opposing the Bill. The bill negatively impacts on the schools as the

regular collection of tuition in affordable amounts is the operational lifeblood of the schools.

The bill is unconstitutional insofar as it constitutes an impairment of contractual obligations.

Yet, passed in the House of Representatives (7 June 2011) and pending in the Senate.

Tax Concerns

Dean Cesar Villanueva (ADMU Law) has written a proposed “Comprehensive Tax Exemption Bill for Non-Profit, Non-Stock Educational Institutions.”

The proposal has been approved by the CEAP Board.

NAC is currently discussing with Rep. Villafuerteon the sponsorship of this bill in the lower house.

Reproductive Health

NAC’s efforts have been successful as some of the contentious provisions in the HB were already deleted:

No clear listing of abortifacient drugs

Employers’ responsibility to provide reproductive health services to the employees deleted

Parents have the option to disallow their children from going through the mandatory sex education.

Environment

“No to mining” stance with CBCP (Mining Act 1995)

NAC studying the Minerals Management Bill (HB 3763).

Currently consolidating the list of people who are experts on mining and environmental science to do research on mining and validate or substantiate CEAP positions

Atty. Faye Risonar Ateneo de Davao University Pres. Assistant for Research & Advocacy