Ilonggo youth leaders join covenant to push youth issues, electoral participation

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Ilonggo youth was represented in the signing of a manifesto that aims to hold local governments and candidates accountable for promises made for the youth during the elections and calling for young people to run in the local elections to forward a new age of politics.

The manifesto was signed with representatives from other youth coalitions from Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Laguna, and Maguindanao during an event hosted by the Tayo Na! Collaboratory for Young Leaders of Democracy program last March 17 to 20 in Quezon City.

The groups recognized the challenges for youth organizing in the local level including limited spaces for engagement in local government processes, limited access to information on the allocation and effective utilization of local government budgets, and the prevalence of corrupt practices, among other issues.

They committed in the manifesto to be at the forefront in building an inclusive and transparent local government, strengthen coalitions, and challenge the status quo in shaping the future of democracy.

“We are not just leaders of the future, but rather, we should be the leaders of today. We commit to challenging the status quo, pushing back against traditional politics that have normalized corruption and marginalization in our communities,” the manifesto read.

Members of the coalitions come from community youth organizations in their respective provinces and cities, formed to engage and lobby for pro-youth policies at the local level, and produced campaign plans to create and lobby for the youth agenda to be upheld by local candidates in the upcoming elections.

Bana-ag Coalition from Iloilo was represented by Allen Dave Evidente, Renan Herrera, and Zyril Jeff Delos Angeles.

Delos Angeles said “local officials did not support activities proposed by community youth organizations due to the lack of a Local Youth Development Office and a Local Youth Development Council, which are supposed to be formed by local government units.”

Maguindanao Coalition member Hannan Arab said, “It is important that young people engage in their governments […], for Bangsamoro youth, we need to give justice to our ancestors who fought for our autonomy.”

In the next few months, the coalitions will be rolling out community consultations, workshops, and assemblies to push for youth action in their areas.

The Tayo Na! Collaboratory for Young Leaders of Democracy is a brainchild of the election reform and watchdog organization, the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), geared towards developing the political-civic participation of the local youth sector through coalition-building, capacity development, project grants, and policy advocacy.