by Sentinel Times Research Staff August 2, 2021 LUCENA CITY - With a week-long lockdown slammed upon the metropolis, down the drain goes P10...
August 2, 2021
LUCENA CITY - With a week-long lockdown slammed upon the metropolis, down the drain goes P105 billion, 177,000 people turn destitute as church mice, and 444,000 breadwinners will be rendered jobless-- the gruesome reality imposed upon the populace against their will and all they can hope for is the forthcoming national elections to boot out, and vote out inept, irresponsible leaders they have put in power.
In urging people to register in the Commission on Elections list-up for voters, Comelec election officer Marianne C. Marfori stressed in the online forum "Yes to Botante Edukado" that voters can exercise suffrage rights to weed out incompetent government officials whose capacity to lead and take decisive steps were bared to the people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Marfori told the audience in the forum conducted by the Coalition of Youth Catalysts (CYC) that the true colors of elected officials were inadvertently shown before their constituents whose votes gave them powers and duties to act on behalf of the people.
She reiterated the constitutional mandate that "power is held by the people or the representatives that they elect" and voters can invest or divest such powers of government officials through exercise of suffrage rights.
Marfori stressed that "public office is a public trust-- public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency."
She noted that people, through their votes, can wield power and bring change in government.
In the same forum, student leader and law student Jabbar Mattar Mohammad D. Al Mazrouie stressed "wala tayong utang na loob sa mga nanunungkulan sa gobyerno, sila ang may utang na loob sa atin (we do not owe any debt of gratitude to government officials, it is they who who us a debt of gratitude)."
Change inevitable
Expressing optimism despite the rueful turn of events brought about by the Covid-19 plague, he averred that "change is inevitable-- the social environment is changing, the minds of our youth are changing (that can precipitate) change in the community, change in the nation.
"In 5-10 years, we will have our turn holding the reins of government, we will be running the government" and what we have observed and learned now, we can put to good use, he added.
He reiterated the constitutional mandate that the State recognize "the vital role of youth in nation-building (which is why the State) shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs."
For his part, Sangguniang Kabataan Benson Batac of Kalayaan, Laguna that the youth sector has the numbers that can determine the outcome of the 2022 local and national elections, comprising 37 percent or 40 million of the national electorate.
Batac who is also a member of the Youth Parliamentarians of Laguna explained that the youth vote is the ground on which "the nation's history can be charted, and our future forged."
Social media as outgrowth of technology "can be used as platform to build up images or ruin personalities and must be used to educate the youth."
He warned non-performing and idle elected officials that theyare under close scrutiny of the youth, especially what they did or failed to do during the crisis spawned by the Covid-19 pestilence.
Palpak Covid-19 response
Balking at what she called "palpak at militaristikong Covid-19 response," Floricar Meirylle O. Manalo of Kabataan Party List noted that the youth votes are being grabbed left and right by politicians of all colors and stripes.
Apart from the health crisis confronted by the populace, she pointed out that Filipinos have also to contend with (1) a worsening crisis in the nation's economy and people's livelihood, (2) education crisis, and (3) human rights violations and surrender of the national sovereignty-- issues and concerns that leaders have conveniently shunned from or refuse to take action on.
Manalo urged voters to challenge candidates to "focus, identify immediate and main issues in the community that need to be addressed. This should serve as standard of voters on whom to vote for."
She cited that voting "doesn't begin with getting registered and end after filling in a ballot. Voters have to push for people's plea for concrete demands. THe electoral exercise must be issue-centered rather than personality-centered. Politicians must be challenged to make the elections issue-centered."
In the online forum, Manalo presented a shop-list of what the youth and the people deserve from their leaders, among them, (1) affordable quality education for all, (2) basic social services amid a pandemic, (3) just wages and employment, (4) genuine land reform, (5) good governance, and (6) peace and end to tyranny.
She also included in the youth and people's agenda an assertion of national sovereignty, environmental stewardship, and freedom from gender discrimination.
"The youth is open to new and progressive ideas, are of robust thinking and health. They have time for other things that matter and for critical, creative thinking.
"It is our decision to allow the current scheme of things to go on, or we can bring about changes that we deserve," she said.
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