By Carla Adeline Via
Select colleges see increase in payees
Silliman University (SU) students who pay their respective council fees can receive discounts, ranging from 5 to 20 percent, in selected food and retail businesses in Dumaguete City.
This came after some colleges set partnerships with local establishments to maximize council fee payment following the university’s memorandum of making it “optional.”
Among those who incentivize payments are the College of Engineering and Design (CED), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Institute of Rehabilitative Sciences (IRS), and College of Business Administration (CBA).
The CED student council partnered with “Purrfect Brews,” “Bea’s Restobar,” “Ben’s Native,” “Brain Brew,” “Viranova PH,” “Bazinga,” “Dizzy Owl,” and “CO2 Coffee & Coworking.”
According to CED Governor Natasha Rostata, the idea of partnering with businesses was set to address the “dwindling number of payees” after last year’s issue.
“As a council, we began asking: ‘What happens if fewer students choose to pay? What if people stop seeing the value in supporting the council altogether?’ If students didn’t feel that worth, then clearly, we needed to do better,” Rostata said.
The CAS student council also offered discounts for “Hielo,” “HEMMINGWAY,” “Graham Delights,” “Oncho Cafe,” “Chia Eatery,” “Bugtaw,” “Utopia Books,” “Kasikas,” “StudyOut Dumaguete,” “Zero Zero Two Pickleball,” and “Chicano Barbershop.”
CAS Governor Sannia Quirina Armamento shared that the initiative was motivated by their “desire to foster a more engaged and connected student body.”
“We believe our positions are ‘for the students and by the students,’ and this core belief motivated us to provide tangible benefits that directly enhance student life,” she said.
On the other hand, the CBA student council partnered with food businesses such as “Yvan,” “Kapeng Lokal,” “Gugma Coffee and Tea,” “8th Halo-halo Stall,” “Dekada ‘80 Bistro,” “Kweba,” “Scoville,” “Mang Kaloy,” and “Milas Ice Cream Station,” among others.
“We also curated this initiative with the understanding that many of our students are the primary consumers of local businesses around Dumaguete,” CBA Governor Nevina Rose Cardente said.
Meanwhile, the IRS student council furthered their advocacy of “healing though movement” by partnering with “Anytime Fitness Dumaguete” and “Incredoball Sports and Development.”
IRS students can also receive discounts on coffee shops such as “Kaffeinated Llama,” “85 Degree Artisan Cafe,” “C02 Coffee & Coworking Dumaguete,” “The 3rd Café,” “Tiiny Supershop,” “The Sol Café and Study Lounge,” among others.
Increase of payees
Council fees are non-mandatory payments per semester aimed at supporting college activities, initiatives, and programs.
After the initiative was launched, the college councils reported an increase in the number of students paying their respective fees.
Rostata explained that they aim to gradually shift the perspective of the students towards the fees as “something more valuable.”
Meanwhile, Cardente revealed that the incentives gained positive feedback from students.
“We’re closely monitoring student engagement, council fee collection rates, and feedback from both students and partner businesses to understand what’s working and where we can improve,” she said.
Moreover, student councils are also eyeing opportunities for stronger partnerships with the businesses within the city and improving the appeal of settling the council fees.
Armamento said she acknowledged the need for “tweaks and amendments” to the current partnerships to ensure that the initiatives “remain sustainable and effective.”
Council fee payees may avail these discounts by presenting their official college membership card to partnered businesses.
