ONE-CDO Manual of Governance

PREAMBLE
We, the member student-councils of this Alliance in Cagayan de Oro, believing the need
for responsible and effective leadership, aided by the Divine Providence, establish an alliance that
embodies the ideals, develop and conserve the dignity of this city, promote the welfare of its
populace and to foster brotherhood of its members, and instill a spirit of humanitarian equality
among its people and citizenry as a whole, guided by the fundamental values of peace, justice,
freedom, and cooperation, responsible and transparent student governance, and the recognition of
the students’ potential in policy-making, do hereby form this inter-council alliance and hereby
ordain and promulgate the manual of governance.
 ARTICLE 1
NAME AND SEAL
Section 1: This inter-student council alliance shall be known as Organisasyon sa mga
Nagkahiusang Estudyante sa Cagayan de Oro. For purpose of brevity, it shall be known as ONE-
CDO.
Section 2: ONE-CDO shall adapt its own seal:
2.1 The four divisions correspond to the four schools who
revised the 2016 Manual of Governance represented by their
university colors: Navy Blue for Xavier University-Ateneo de
Cagayan, Red for Capitol University, Green for PHINMA
Cagayan de Oro College and Royal Blue for Mindanao
University for Science and Technology.
2.2 The Gavel represents the thrust of the alliance to be the
vanguard of the Student’s Rights and Welfare.
2.3 The links correspond to the thrust of the alliance to establish
Networks and Linkages.
2.4 The Gear signifies the thrust of the alliance to contribute to
nation building.
2.5 The academic cap represents the thrust of the alliance to safeguard the academic competence
of our academic institutions.
2.6 The cross at the center signifies that the alliance is Christ-centered and believes in inter-
religious and cultural dialogue.

Article II
Declaration of Principles, Core Values, Vision and Mission

Section 1: The alliance believes on:

1.1 country’s principles of democracy and sovereignty
1.2 the importance of quality education as a means of societal advancement.

Section 2: Core Values:

2.1 Patriotic Leadership- The alliance wills to strengthen the local capacity for inclusive
growth and initiate developmental strategies for the competencies among the partner schools
through the promotion of social justice, nation-building, and socio-civic engagements;
2.2 Servant Leadership- The alliance advocates for a strong sense of selfless dedication in
genuine service by means of taking significant part in social responsibility through constant
amelioration of character;
 2.3 Proactive Leadership- The alliance believes in championing change through strategic
thinking and leading by example. It emphasizes on accepting change, inspiring others to rise to
each occasion and to do what needs to be done and doing it right. It also stresses the importance
of honesty and integrity.
Section 3: Vision Statement:
3.1 ONE-CDO, as an alliance of student government of tertiary schools in CDO, is a
dynamic, proactive and sustainable alliance in addressing social issues and concerns and guarding
students’ rights, interests and welfare through effective networking and cooperation.
Section 4: The Alliance shall:
4.1 assist in establishing a network among student-led entities which will push a student-
centered agenda in the city;
4.2 seek representation in the city local government in crafting policies and directives that
affect the tertiary students in Cagayan de Oro;
4.3 assist student councils in promoting democratic student participation and
representation in their respective school administrations; and
4.4 ensure coherent leadership and participation among its members through
implementing activities pertaining to the general welfare and interests of its members.

Article III
Membership

Section 1: A student council interested to become member of the Alliance shall submit a letter of
intent manifesting their adherence to the mission, vision and goals of the Alliance. It must be
addressed to the Secretary General of the Permanent ONE-CDO Secretariat (POCS) who will then
grant the membership based upon the provision herein:
1.1 A duly recognized tertiary school in Cagayan de Oro City by the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED);
1.2 Must be recognized by their Office of Student Affairs or its counterpart as the
highest student-led governing body in their school.
 Article IV
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 1. The Member Council shall have the following rights:

1.1 To send representatives in the congress proper;

1.2 To have voting and deliberating rights;
1.3 To have access to the official records of ONE-CDO;
1.4 To have sovereignty over their respective internal and external affairs;
1.5 To due process of law; and
1.6 To lobby the approved resolutions of ONE-CDO Leaders' Summit and to have
dialogue with the administrators.

Section 2. The member council shall have the following responsibilities:

2.1 To send representatives to regular conferences, colloquia, and assemblies;
2.2 To deliberate and agree upon the creation of resolutions and/or projects to be
implemented, but not limited to, their respective campuses;
2.3 To support and uphold the Manual of Governance of ONE-CDO;
2.4 To maintain regular correspondence with other members of ONE-CDO;
2.5 To present reports to the administration and work collaboratively with them according
to what had transpired in ONE-CDO Leaders' Summit; and
2.6 To provide resources for the operations of the Alliance.
 Article V

STRUCTURE

Section 1: The ONE-CDO Assembly shall refer to all the delegates of ONE-CDO Leaders'
Summit and ONE-CDO Mid-Year Conference.

Section 2: The ONE-CDO Congress shall refer to the ambassadors of ONE-CDO Member
Councils, chaired by the Convener, and shall be the highest policy making body of the Assembly.

2.1 The following shall be the powers and responsibilities of the ONE-CDO
Congress:
2.1.1 To formulate and amend the Constitution and by-laws of ONE-CDO
2.1.2 Grant or withdraw membership of student councils in the ONE-CDO
2.1.3 To examine financial reports of POCS
2.1.4 And to meet as often as necessary to discharge its function

2.2 The Ambassadors, who are the representatives of their respective schools to the
congress, shall have the following powers and responsibilities:
2.2.1 Disseminate information to respective student councils
2.2.2 Approve resolutions, stands and other necessary documents
2.2.3 Executive resolutions applicable to their institutions
2.2.4 Update the Secretary-General about the developments
2.2.5 Become the official coordinating representative of ONE-CDO for the member
schools
2.2.6 Ensure proper transitioning of all files and documents
2.2.7 Audit budget liquidation reports
2.2.8 Right to vote
2.2.9 Synchronize with presidents
2.2.10 Initiate meetings with other Ambassadors.

2.3 Qualifications of the Ambassadors:

2.3.1 Must be a bona fide student of a tertiary school in Cagayan de Oro City
2.3.2 Must not hold a key leadership position such as President or its equivalent, of a
recognized student organization within his/her respective school.
2.3.3 Must have a QPI of not less than 3.00 for a grading system with 1.00 as the
highest grade or 2.00 for a grading system with 4.00 as the highest grade for the
semester preceding appointment.
2.3.4 Must possess self-mastery.
2.3.5 Must possess skills necessary for the performance of the aspired position in the
secretariat.
2.3.6 Must possess a clear vision for his/her role.
2.3.7 Must imbue the fundamental principles of his/her school and be able to
religiously represent their school in the alliance.
2.3.8 Must possess a real intent for his/her role, and in serving for the welfare of the
students in Cagayan de Oro and the greater community.
 2.4 The Ambassador that will represent the participating student council in the congress
shall be appointed by the Incoming President of the student council based on the qualifications
set in section 2.3 of this article.

Section 3: The ONE-CDO Steering Committee, chaired by the appointee of the president
of the host school, shall refer to the working committee responsible of organizing the ONE-CDO
Leader’s Summit and ONE-CDO Mid-year Conference.

3.1 The Steering Committee shall:

3.1.1 Be composed of the members from the host school
3.1.2 Have an appointed project head as deemed necessary.
3.1.3 Be composed of four main sub-committees, namely Programs, Finance,
Logistics and Secretariat. Other sub-committees may be created by the Organizing
Committee as deemed necessary.
Section 4. The PERMANENT ONE-CDO SECRETARIAT, henceforth known as POCS,
is the main overseeing body of ONE-CDO. It is an office strategically located at one of the
member schools for continuity and efficiency of documentation.
5.1 The succeeding member schools that shall house the POCS will be agreed upon the
ONE-CDO Congress. The POCS shall serve a term of three years, with an evaluation to
be done thereafter.
5.2 The POCS is also in charge of the execution of certain correspondences between
member schools regarding any matter. The POCS will be appointed by the President of
the POCS Host School.
5.3 The following are its main roles and functions:
5.3.1 The POCS shall be the custodian of the By-laws and resolutions of ONE-CDO
and shall ensure enforcement of such;
5.3.2 The POCS shall handle the coordination and communication among bona-fide
members of ONE-CDO and shall assist, in particular, in the secretarial needs of the
summit;
5.3.3 The POCS shall be given a copy of mid-term and final full reports of activities
and initiatives of all bona-fide members of ONE-CDO;
5.3.4 The POCS shall attend all the events of ONE-CDO;
5.3.5 The POCS shall provide proposals for the continued expansion and
consolidation of ONE-CDO;
5.3.6 The POCS, shall be the official spokesperson of ONE-CDO;
5.3.7 The POCS shall present an operational budget to the ONE-CDO National
Congress at the end of the leaders’ summit;
 5.3.8 The POCS shall have the authority to enforce sanctions to any member of ONE-
CDO in compliance with the Code of Internal Procedures and the Constitution;
5.3.9 The Office of the POCS shall perform other functions as directed by the ONE-
CDO.

5.4 The POCS shall be composed of the following with their respective
responsibilities:

a. Convener
i. The Convener is the over-all head of the secretariat and the Chair of the
Congress; He/she oversees all the activities of the alliance to be aligned with
its vision, mission and principles.
ii. The Convener will secure that all rights and responsibilities of the alliance are
upheld.
iii. The Convener has the right to create additional officers as deemed necessary
for the improvement of the alliance.
iv. The convener will act as the liaison officer of the alliance to its external
partners and stakeholders.
b. Secretary-General

i. The Secretary-General shall be in charge of documenting and processing of all

the papers that are circulated in the POCS.
ii. The Secretary-General has the power to release the documents if asked for by
a member school with the approval of the POCS.
iii. The Secretary-General will automatically be the head of the team that will
make an annual report on the accomplishment and undertakings of ONE-CDO.
iv. The Secretary-General shall assist the Convener to ensure the alignment of the
activities of the alliance’s vision and mission.
c. Audit and Inventory Secretary

i. The Audit and Inventory Secretary is mainly in charge of taking into account
the allotted budgets of the member schools through the reports sent by the
finance officer of each school.
ii. The Audit and Inventory Officer shall also ensure the execution of the different
resolutions passed by the National Congress

d. Communication Secretary

i. The Communication Secretary is responsible for establishing a distinguished

repute or brand of the alliance to the outside community through managing its
themes, campaigns, statements and media.
 ii. The Communication secretary shall also be responsible in establishing a
system for internal communication.
5.5 Qualifications of the Permanent ONE-CDO Secretariat Officers
5.5.1 Must be a bona fide student of a tertiary school in Cagayan de Oro City
5.5.2 Must not hold a key leadership position such as President or its equivalent,
of a recognized student organization within his/her respective school.
5.5.3 Must have a QPI of not less than 3.00 for a grading system with 1.00 as the
highest grade or 2.00 for a grading system with 4.00 as the highest grade for the semester
preceding appointment.
5.5.4 Must possess self-mastery.
5.5.5 Must possess skills necessary for the performance of the aspired position
in the secretariat.
5.5.6 Must possess a clear vision for his/her role.
5.5.7 Must possess a real intent for his/her role, and in serving for the welfare of
the students in Cagayan de Oro and the greater community.
5.5.8 In addition, no student who has served as an ambassador can apply as part
of the Secretariat.
5.6 Selection Process of the Permanent ONE-CDO Secretariat officers
5.6.1 The Convener shall be appointed by the President of the POCS Host School
based on the qualifications set in section 5.5 of this article and will automatically take office
upon acceptance of the appointment.
5.6.2 The recruitment of the rest of the Permanent ONE-CDO Secretariat officers
shall follow this process:
1. The Convener will appoint the officers he/she deems fit for the position.
2. The ONE-CDO Congress shall conduct an interview or other evaluation tool
deemed necessary to assess the appointee’s qualification to the requirements
set by Section 5.5 of this article.
3. The ONE-CDO Congress shall deliberate on the qualification of the
appointed officers.
4. Accepted appointees will be officially confirmed by the ONE-CDO Congress
upon his/her acceptance of the selection.
5. In the case of a rejected appointee, the Convener will again appoint another
person for the position and will then undergo the selection process.

For Fair implementation of this section, a manual for selection detailing the procedures,
rubric, and tools for the selection of the POCS officers must be formulated and can be
amended, by rule of majority, by the ONE-CDO Congress. The manual shall only be
accessible to, and its contents be held confidential, by the members of the ONE-CDO
Congress.
 ARTICLE VI
ASSEMBLAGE

Section 1. For purposes of maintaining the Alliance—its pacts and elements, the members
conform and adapt the tradition of assemblage. In the case, specific to the Alliance, there are
three types of assemblage, namely, the Plenary Sessions, the Mid-Year Conference and the
Leaders’ Summit.
Section 2. The PLENARY SESSIONS are meetings of the Ambassadors held at least once
every month. The sessions serve as the main avenue for the Alliance to discuss matters that
concern it, create resolutions, and discuss subjects unfit to be tackled during the other types of
assemblage. Further, all approved resolutions shall be kept by the POCS for safe keeping and
ensure strict implementation of such resolutions among the member schools.
Section 3. The ONE CDO MID-YEAR CONFERENCE is an annual gathering of the member
schools during the break in between the first and second semesters. All the needs for the
gathering, technical and logistical, will be assigned to and thus be provided by the host school.
The conference occurs for the following goals:
3.1 Update the member councils of each other’s activities and endeavors;
3.2 Critique and evaluate the implementation of the resolutions passed in the previous
ONE CDO Leaders’ Congress;
3.3 Decide on the thrust of the next ONE CDO Leaders’ Summit; and
3.4 Other agenda the Assembly wishes to take.
Section 4. The ONE CDO LEADERS’ SUMMIT, chaired by the outgoing council President
of the host school or its substitute in the case where such person is unavailable, shall refer to
the convention of the ONE CDO Assembly with the following goals:
4.1 Evaluate the implementation of the resolutions and common ONE CDO related
activities of the previous academic year;
4.2 Discuss matters undertaken by the Assembly throughout the year;
4.3 Deliberate proposed resolutions and common action plans for the incoming
academic year;
4.4 Enhance the leadership skills of the delegates through the exchange of ideas and
strategies for effective and meaningful service for the members;
4.5 Provide a smooth transition between the outgoing and incoming host schools; and

4.6 Plan for a post-Summit community building activity with the incoming council
Presidents and Ambassadors to enhance professional bonds among the member
schools.
 ARTICLE VII
ACCOUNTABILITY

Section 1. Each member of ONE-CDO Congress are mandated to comply with the
provisions stipulated in this Manual of Governance.

Section 2. In the event that any delegate of the member schools of ONE-CDO violates any
provision of this Manual of Governance, reprimand and/or other punishments deemed fit by the
ONE-CDO Congress and POCS, will be recommended to the member school’s student council
presidents.

Section 3. Sanctions will be enforced upon discretion of ONE-CDO Congress and POCS
in the event that a member school commits any of the following:
3.1 Gross negligence of duty;
3.2 Violation of this Manual of Governance; and
3.3 Any other offenses deemed inappropriate by the ONE-CDO Congress and POCS.

ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION OF OFFICE

Section 1. Any duly appointed officer may apply for termination of his/her term in the
Alliance through sending a formal written communication to the ONE-CDO Congress. His/her
term is formally terminated by special approval and its notification by the ONE-CDO Congress
to the officer concerned.

Section. 2. The term of an officer is also automatically terminated upon meeting any of the
following conditions:
2.1 Not being a bona fide student of the member school he/she represents upon
appointment;
2.2 Guilty of final judgment of any grave disciplinary or academic offense under his/her
school’s rules and regulations;
2.3 Incapability due to health reasons; and
2.4 Death.
Section 3 Upon vacancy of a position in the POCS or ONE-CDO Congress, the appointee
of the vacant position will re-appoint another officer and shall undergo the selection process as
stated in the Article 5 of this Manual of Governance.

ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Any member of the Congress may propose amendments of this Manual of
Governance.
Section 2. Any proposed amendments shall become validly approved and ratified effective
only after the ratification by at least 2/3 vote of the Congress sitting en banc.

Section 3. No resolutions conflicting with this Manual of Governance should be passed

until this Manual of Governance is upheld and promulgated.

Section 4. At any time, amendments and/or revisions of this Manual of Governance may be
proposed as to modify, and add and/or delete certain provisions of the Manual of Governance.

ARTICLE X

TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Section 1. Repealing Clause. All previous rules and regulations or part thereof inconsistent with
this Manual of Governance are hereby repealed or modified.

Section 2. Separability Clause. If for any reason, any part of this Manual of Governance shall be
held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, other parts or provision hereof which are not affected
shall continue to be in full force or effect.

Section 3. Effectivity. These rules shall take effect upon its ratification.