A non-partisan coalition of youth organizations from various causes and sectors is uniting to launch the Bacolod Youth Coalition for Democracy (BaCoD) at the Saint John Mary Vianney Hall, San Sebastian Cathedral, 9 a.m. Saturday, May 15, to push for youth voters registration, education, and empowerment.
The launching event dubbed “Bangon, Pamatan-on!” aims to introduce BaCoD to the public, and to get youth leaders to sign a manifesto of support for the coalition which is composed of student councils, campus-based organizations, the Sangguniang Kabataan, and the youth arms of civil society organizations, a press release from the group said.
The public launch also aims to invite other youth formations from different sectors such as young professionals, religious youth organizations, and the likes, its said.
“BaCoD aims to maximize the capacities of the youth in taking active roles for the upcoming 2022 national elections. The initiative centers on voter registration through the establishment of a localized and unified issue-based voters education program and the intersectional creation of a 2022 youth agenda representative of the Bacolod youth,” says Joshua Eusebio Jr., the Secretariat Lead of BaCoD.
BaCoD emerged as a response to the urgent calls for a collective youth-voter empowerment movement for the upcoming May 2022 elections, he said.
It intends to increase youth voter registration and turnout by making voter registration accessible to the youth, as well as develop a relevant, innovative, and engaging voters’ education program to intensify campaigns for the 2022 national elections through collectivizing efforts for the youth, Eusebio added.
“The creation of a youth coalition is necessary and strategic in helping the community of young individuals to be more informed of their political and legal right to vote. It is also essential for young voters to educate themselves on political issues, and the coalition will be of great value in fulfilling the short and long-term goals in strengthening the community as a whole,” Ayesha Villaflor, SK Federation of Bacolod president, said.*