Student leaders, campus journalists, and sectoral youth from Negros Occidental on Saturday, July 22, called President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s first year in office a “failure”.
The assessment was made during the State of the Youth Address, which carried the theme “Hatol ng Kabataan ng Negros Occidental sa Unang Taon ni Marcos Jr: Palya o Pasa” at Beanucot Café at Sea Breeze Hotel.
The event organized by Rise for Education – Negros sought to shed light on the current situation of the youth in the province and to critique the existing programs and policies that are detrimental to the youth, a press release said Sunday.
They addressed crucial issues such as academic and press freedom, tuition fee hikes, budget cuts in State Universities, the climate crisis and developmental aggression, and attacks on peasant youth and activists, it said.
The youth pledged, through a manifesto, to protect the welfare of their fellow students and other youth, ensuring their right to free expression, genuine representation, and active participation in decision-making processes.
They expressed solidarity in advocating against budget cuts in state universities and unjust tuition fee hikes in private institutions. Furthermore, They also vowed to challenge any threats to their democratic rights and denounce militarization within their campuses and communities, the press release said.
“Our solidarity extends beyond the boundaries of our classrooms; we stand shoulder to shoulder with the entire Filipino nation. Our aspirations are intricately linked with the legitimate needs of the Filipino masses, and we pledge ourselves to fight for the betterment of every citizen, leaving no one behind, “the SOYA 2023 manifesto said.
The event was participated in by the Kabataan Partylist – Negros, Youth for Climate Hope, Halungan ang Kadanyagan sa Occidental kag Oriental Negros; campus publications, The Spectrum – USLS, Tolentine Star of CSA- B, The Technopacer – Talisay, and UNO-R SHS Starlight; student councils, Negros Occidental High School Supreme Student Government, Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod University Student Government, Liceo Student Government, and Handumanan National High School.*