KABATAAN Party-list Representative Raoul Manuel filed a resolution upholding the institutional autonomy of Student Councils or Governments and Student Publications.

In House Resolution 11, Manuel said there is a need for student councils and publications to forge unities and collectively assert the right to student representation and self-organization in pursuit of national liberation and true democracy.

He added that student councils and student publications have been instrumental in fostering participation and militancy among the youth and in leading resistance movements against anti-people policies and fascist dictatorship.

However, Manuel said that Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act — which deemed student council fees and student publication fees as redundant, exorbitant and dubious — limits the self-governance and holistic development of the students.

He added student leaders, student journalists and the critics of the government continue to be targets of surveillance networks, political vilification and psychological harassment.

Manuel said it is high time that members of the House of Representatives act on giving autonomy to Student Councils or governments and student publications.