By Liza Agoot with reports from Mary Joy Ildefonso, OJT/Philippine News Agency
BAGUIO CITY — The youth is a voice to reckon with in the May 13 mid-term national and local elections, National Youth Commission (NYC) officials said on Friday.
“Malaki ang role ng kabataang Pilipino dahil kung gusto mong baguhin ang bansa kayang-kaya mong simulan yan sa pagbabago ng leaders ng bansa (The Filipino youth have a big role in changing the country, and it will start from changing the leaders of the country),” NYC chairperson and chief executive officer, Undersecretary Ronald Gian Cardema, said on the sidelines of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) national convention here.
“The Filipino youth are the biggest voting block and will play a big role in choosing leaders in our country,” he said.
Based on government data, Cardema said 24 million voters are young professionals, aged 18 years to 30 years.
“Kaya ng kabataang Pilipino magpanalo ng mga senador, at dapat lang ‘wag niyong ibenta ang inyong boto (The Filipino youth are capable of putting in office a senatorial candidate so don’t sell your votes),” he said, adding that those elected in public offices have an important role in forging the future of every Filipino.
An election is an exercise of a right, Cardema said, urging the youth to go out and vote in the upcoming May 13 election.
“The youth should vote to show that they are part of the change in the leadership of the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary Victor del Rosario, NYC Commissioner representing the Visayas, said every vote counts so the electorate should exercise their right of suffrage.
“One vote is very powerful. You should not waste your vote because it can make a difference,” he said.
Del Rosario said the youth must have criteria in choosing which candidate to vote for.
“The youth should consider the competence and records of the candidates, the clean records and no corruption case of the candidate,” he said.
“We are discouraging the young people from voting for candidates who have a pending case, corruption case,” del Rosario added.
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