by Aldrin Villegas
Less than half of the positions in the School of Economics Student Council (SESC) will be filled in the upcoming local council elections, with only eight candidates vying for seven posts.
The SE Electoral Board (SEEB) released the official list of candidates on March 31, two days after extending the deadline for filing of candidacy. Incumbent candidates are running for the top two spots in this year’s polls.
Education and Research Councilor Carlos Cabaero is running for chairperson, while Junior Batch Representative Patricia Morada is running for vice chairperson, both unopposed.
Meanwhile, independent candidate Ali Balindong III is vying for SE Representative to the USC against Sophomore Rio Dayao of university-wide party UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA).
The SEEB will hold special elections to fill the five councilors and five batch representative posts. Nominations will immediately begin the day after the election.
With a total of 611 out of 850 votes casted, SE’s voter turnout last year is 71.88 percent. This year, a total of 862 students are eligible to vote.
The official list of SESC candidates follows:
CHAIRPERSON
Carlos Cabaero
VICE CHAIRPERSON
Anna Patricia Morada
ECON REP TO THE USC
Ali Balindong III (Independent)
Rio Dayao (Alyansa)
COUNCILORS
Lemuel Teh (Secretariat)
Ian Jerald Serrano (Students’ Rights and Welfare)
Klarissa Sanchez (Councilor for Marketing and Alumni Relations)
REPRESENTATIVE
Kevin Michael Lobo (Sophomore Batch Representative)
VACANT POSITIONS
Education and Research Councilor
Finance Councilor
Media and Publicity Councilor
Internal Affairs Councilor
Sports, Arts and Culture Councilor
2 Senior Batch Representatives
2 Junior Batch Representatives
1 Sophomore Batch Representative