Written by Juan Miguel O. Diaz | August 19, 2025
BELCOM holds first joint elections
THE Bedan Electoral Committee (BELCOM) held the first-ever joint elections of the Student Executive Council (SEC), Bedan Psychological Society (BPS), Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA), and the Junior Bedan Law Circle (JBLC).
The elections were held from Aug. 15-16 for BPS, while for the SEC and JBLC, it was held on Aug. 16 and was extended online until Aug. 17.
In an exclusive interview with THE BEDAN HERALD, Jose Mari Aguidan (IV-BSLM), BELCOM Chairperson, shares that the organization was prompted to hold a joint election to increase voter turnout and combat the current trend of student apathy.
“This initiative not only increased participation but also facilitated valuable connections among organizations, enhancing their understanding of effective election procedures,” Aguidan emphasized.
When asked if all elections for the SEC and co-curricular organizations moving forward will be held under one joint election, the BELCOM Chairperson affirmed. This decision comes following talks from various departments to combat student apathy.
“This initiative aims to foster a unified and actively engaged San Beda community within the Tertiary Schools through a thoroughly facilitated political process,” he explained.
Aguidan also shares that there has been an improvement in the voter turnout for this year as compared to the previous academic year. “I am pleased to report a significant increase in election turnout, rising from 20% to 30%, indicating a marked reduction in student apathy and heightened political awareness within the Tertiary Schools,” he shared.
According to him, endorsements coming from co-curricular organizations such as BPS contributed to the overall success of the elections.
Moving forward, the BELCOM Chairperson envisions the organization participating in other student activities and diversifying its partnerships as it solidifies its role beyond overseeing the election.
“By collaborating with other organizations and showcasing its independence, BELCOM will demonstrate its commitment to both service and organizational autonomy,” he added.
The results of the elections of SEC, BPS, and JBLC were posted last Monday, Aug. 18. The results for the SEC special elections declared Javier Santiago Tiglao (I-BSIT) as the duly elected First-Year Level Representative, while Jeramelle Agatha Fernandez (III-BSLM) won as the Third-Year Level Representative.
Based on the voter breakdown provided by BELCOM, the voters for this year’s special elections were mainly from the School of Business, Accountancy, and Management with 53.8% of the voters, followed by the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education with 31.7%, and the School of Engineering and Technology with 14.6%.
The position for the Fourth-Year Level Representative of the SEC remains vacant as BELCOM is yet to release an official announcement on this matter.
Volume 31 | Issue 2
