Young Negrenses were urged to scrutinize online disinformation and hold public officials accountable during the Bacolod leg of the GenZennial Tour: We Decide the Future at Carlos Hilado Memorial State University-Alijis Campus, Oct. 2.
The event, organized by Team Pinas, focused on two national issues affecting young voters: disinformation surrounding the West Philippine Sea and public accountability in controversies involving government officials and the use of public funds.
In a press release, Team Pinas described the nationwide tour as a civic education initiative designed for younger audiences who increasingly get information from social media platforms.
The program combined short discussions with interactive activities aimed at helping participants evaluate information, understand democratic institutions and take part in civic discussions.
Dr. Sherwin Ona, a De La Salle University professor and Team Pinas core member, joined the Bacolod event online to discuss how narratives surrounding the West Philippine Sea are being shaped and amplified on TikTok and other digital platforms.
Ona stressed the need for young Filipinos to distinguish verified information from manipulated or misleading content before sharing it online.
He said teaching young people how to identify manipulated content is also important to protecting the country’s national interests.
The event also tackled accountability in government, including impeachment proceedings, controversies involving flood-control spending, alleged ghost projects and other mechanisms used to investigate possible misuse of public authority and resources.
Prof. Cleve Arguelles, convenor of Bantay Senado, Team Pinas spokesperson and founder and chief executive officer of Momentum Research, said citizens should apply consistent standards when evaluating allegations involving public officials.
Arguelles said discussions involving impeachment, questionable public works or alleged misuse of government funds should be based on evidence and due process.
He said public officials have a responsibility to respond to legitimate questions about their conduct, while citizens should avoid treating allegations as established facts before proper investigation.
Public interest lawyer Race Del Rosario also joined the discussion and provided a legal perspective on accountability and the processes used to establish facts.
Team Pinas executive director Carlo Flores said the organization is also encouraging young Filipinos to recognize their influence as voters ahead of the 2028 elections.
“Our goal is to emphasize that GenZennials, the youth, hold the vote. That is how much influence one generation has,” Flores said.
He said decisions made by voters in the next national elections should be grounded in verified information.
Flores identified truth-telling, bridge-building and change-making as among the principles promoted by the organization.
The Bacolod activity followed previous GenZennial Tour stops in Dumaguete, Siquijor, Manila and General Santos.
The group is composed of scholars, policy practitioners, educators, legal experts and civic leaders, including members affiliated with OCTA Research, Momentum Research and the Philippine Society for Public Administration, the press release added.*
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