I found myself taken aback by the substantial filing fees required from aspirants in the recent COSSA-CHED elections. These fees do not merely come across as an unwelcome financial burden but strike at the very heart of what leadership and governance should represent in a senior staff setup like ours. Infamously, such exorbitant fees represent not only a discouraging barrier to entry for potential aspirinants but epitomize a setback in nurturing service-driven leadership.

The notion that an aspiring leader must pay a significant amount to run for a position in COSSA-CHED undermines the principles of service, fair access, and equal opportunity. When we place monetary hurdles ahead of potential leaders, we convey a message that leadership is a commodity reserved only for those who can pay their way, overshadowing merit and dedication.

The imposition of high filing fees in  sets a dangerous precedent, threatening to transform our association’s leadership from a selfless service to a financially driven engagement. When this concept of filling fee is encouraged and continued, this will reduce the scope of leadership to only those who can afford it.

Moreover, in accordance with the principles of our constitution, every member should have the right to contest without financial discrimination. Mandatory filing fees are not only unconstitutional but utterly outrageous.

With a collective voice, we must petition for the immediate withdrawal and complete abolition of all filing fees in the COSSA-CHED elections. This petition is not just for today, but for the future, paving the way for equitable participation in all leadership roles.

Please join me in signing this petition to help abolish the filing fees in COSSA-CHED elections.