PolSci students conduct academic tour; visit 'Displina Village,' congress in Valenzuela, QC
Political Science students from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) witnessed how good governance principles were practiced as they conducted an academic tour, where they visited 'Disiplina Village' in Valenzuela City and the House of Representatives in Quezon City, May 7.
'Disiplina Village' was recognized as a 'Galing Pook Awardee' in 2018, this award for local government units in the country honors the best practices among LGUs that demonstrate responsiveness, sustainability, and accountability. 'Disiplina Village' is a collaborative project of the local government of Valenzuela, the National Housing Authority, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
“The project relocated more than 4,000 informal settlers from dangerous zones prone to flooding and other risks. These residents now live in the 13-hectare housing project, which provides livelihood, health, and educational support,” Engr. Mark Dizor, head of the City’s Estate Management Division, Housing and Resettlement shared.
The students continued the academic tour at the House of Representatives where the Director of Intellectual Property Rights welcomed them. Students visited to tour various offices, including Speaker Nograles', where major committee hearings are held, other representatives' offices, and the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The tour provided the students with the opportunity to enter the Plenary Hall, where bills are read and eventually passed after the third reading.
The students also visited the Office of Cong. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, the representative of the first district of Quezon Province and the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.
Cong. Enverga welcomed questions from the students, particularly on food security issues and government programs aimed at helping farmers.
Student delegates and CAS faculty expressed their gratitude to Ms. Eunice P. Blanco-Serrano the supervising head of governance tours in Valenzuela City, the staff of Cong. Mark Enverga and Hon. Reynante Arrogancia for their assistance with the academic tour.
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This activity aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 4: Quality Education: The academic tour provided an educational experience outside the classroom, enhancing students' understanding of governance and legislative processes.
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: By examining projects like Disiplina Village, students learned about initiatives aimed at reducing inequalities through inclusive and sustainable housing solutions.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Disiplina Village exemplifies efforts to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Visiting the House of Representatives and interacting with lawmakers helped students understand the importance of strong institutions in promoting peace and justice.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The collaborative nature of Disiplina Village involving local government, national agencies, and community stakeholders underscores the importance of partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals.
