Aklan SP Approves Students Rights and Wellfare Ordinance

“𝘉𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘯, 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘈 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯, 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦.”
— 𝖲𝗉𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗈𝗋𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗉 𝖲𝗉𝖾𝖾𝖼𝗁 𝗈𝖿 𝖧𝗈𝗇. 𝖤𝖽𝗆𝗎𝗇𝖽𝗈 𝖬. 𝖳𝗈𝗅𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗈, 𝖩𝗋.

KALIBO, Aklan- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan has approved, for third and final reading, the Students’ Rights and Welfare (StRAW) Ordinance, a landmark measure that establishes a comprehensive framework for the protection and promotion of the rights and welfare of students in high schools, colleges, universities, and other higher educational institutions throughout the Province of Aklan.

The ordinance was principally sponsored by SP Members Edmundo M. Tolentino, Jr., Mark V. Quimpo, and Mark Ace L. Bautista, and seeks to uphold the constitutional right to quality education while fostering an environment where students can freely exercise their academic, civil, and democratic rights.

Grounded on the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the Education Act of 1982, and various international human rights instruments, the ordinance recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and affirms that education is a fundamental right that must be accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of every student.

Among the key rights guaranteed under the ordinance are protection against discrimination in educational institutions; the right to organize and establish student councils and organizations; freedom of expression and academic freedom; the right to publish independent student publications; representation in the highest policy-making bodies of schools; access to information and school records; due process in disciplinary proceedings; protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; respect for students’ privacy and intellectual property rights; and the right to a healthy, safe, and smoke-free learning environment.

The ordinance also mandates schools to endeavor to provide adequate student welfare services, including health, counseling, legal assistance, communication systems, and learning facilities.
To strengthen student participation and youth leadership in the province, the measure establishes several institutional programs, including the creation of a Committee on Students’ Rights and Welfare (StRAW) under the Provincial School Board, which will serve as the primary body to address student concerns, conduct information campaigns, and assist in the implementation of the ordinance.

The ordinance likewise creates the United Student Councils Association of Aklan (USCAA), an autonomous province-wide association of recognized student councils that will serve as a platform for collaboration, policy dialogue, and leadership development among student leaders across the province.

Further promoting youth engagement, the measure institutionalizes an annual Student Leaders Congress, where student representatives from secondary and tertiary institutions will participate in leadership training, policy discussions, and collaborative planning on education and youth issues.

In addition, November 17 of every year is officially declared as Aklan Students’ Day, in line with the observance of International Students’ Day. The annual celebration will feature activities promoting student health and wellness, media literacy, financial literacy, leadership development, and civic engagement.

With the passage of the StRAW Ordinance, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan reaffirmed its commitment to creating a learning environment where students are empowered, protected, and encouraged to become active partners in governance and community development, while ensuring that educational institutions remain spaces that uphold dignity, inclusivity, academic excellence, and democratic participation.

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