But statement stops short on mentioning both candidates
By GUIEN GARMA
The Alliance of Dormitory Associations has released a statement following Buklod-UPLB USC councilor candidate Tracy Famarin’s allegations that SAKBAYAN USC Vice-Chair candidate Yvann Zuñiga “was not there” during consultations with the residents of Men’s Residence Hall.
Famarin is the incumbent president of Men’s Residence Hall dormitory association.
In the statement, a copy of which was furnished to the Perspective, ADA asserted that its activities, including the dialogues with concerned University officials and dorm consultations or dorm hops, “are the works of ADA as a whole.”
“While we recognize and appreciate the help given by some people during some of the meetings of the ADA, the dorm campaigns and dorm hops are the works of ADA as a whole and not with any of the political parties,” the statement said.
ADA also recognizes incumbent USC councilor Reimond Corona “as the ADA Coordinator for this academic year.”
“We clarify things not to make misleading allegations, but to make things straight and true. We are speaking on behalf of the dormers and not for any political means, because ADA, in the first place, is an independent, non-partisan organization,” ADA’s statement said.
The statement from ADA has not mentioned either Zuñiga or Famarin.
On the #UPLBElections2015 USC Electoral Debate held on Thursday, April 16, Famarin accused Zuñiga of not being present during the consultations with the residents of Men’s Dorm. Zuñiga refuted the claim, saying “I was there, Tracy, and you were there.”
The Perspective tried to get a statement from either Famarin or Buklod since after the electoral debate. However, on Friday, Buklod deferred after learning that ADA will release a statement on their own. [P]
The following is Alliance of Dormitory Associations’ statement in full:
ADA was reestablished in year 2012 through the efforts of the ADA Core group which was composed of the representatives of ten UPLB Dormitories, Graduate School Student Council, College of Economics and Management Student Council, University Student Council’s STRAW Committee and Perspectives’ representatives. It was re-established due to the problems that dormers faced in year 2012. ADA achieved victories throughout the years since its reestablishment such as the review of the current Residence Hall Agreement, and Notarization and Quitclaims, and drafting of the Dormitories’ Internal Rules and Regulations and Magna Carta of the UPLB Dormers. We can also count the success of PasADAhan, the sports festival for UPLB dormers, as one of the victories of the alliance.
Last academic year, the ADA officers of 2013-2014 held several dialogues with the UPLB Housing Office and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs for the discussion of the several issues such as the centralization of the payment scheme and reservation.
This academic year successfully held another sets of dialogues with the UHO and OVCCA. We raised our concerns to the new set of admin officers, led by Chancellor Fernando Sanchez Jr., regarding the following issues: STRASUC players’ accommodation in university dormitories beyond December 14; Storage Fee for December; Feb Fair curfew hours; postponement of the priority reservation; and most importantly the issue of the renovation of three dormitories. We are proud to say that we and the dormers won our calls. We waived the December 2014 storage fee, and we postponed the priority reservation. We also succeeded in resolving the STRASUC issue.
While we recognize and appreciate the help given by some people during some of the meetings of the ADA, the dorm campaigns and dorm hops are the works of ADA as a whole and not with any of the political parties. Furthermore, ADA recognizes Mr. Reimond Corona as the ADA Coordinator for this academic year. We clarify things not to make misleading allegations, but to make things straight and true. We are speaking on behalf of the dormers and not for any political means, because ADA, in the first place, is an independent, non-partisan organization.
Lastly, the success of the dorm campaign is the success of the Alliance of Dormitory Associations and the dormers, and not just the success of one single person or party.
Thus, it is a challenge for the next University Student Council officials to take part in ADA’s activities and advocacies while respecting and maintaining the Alliance’s independence from politics.
UPLB Perspective 
i think the issue was not answered by the statement of ADA. the issue was whether Zuñiga was there or not.