Youth Voter Registration Sparks Hope for Barangay Elections
MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Erwin Garcia urged young Filipinos on Tuesday to register and vote in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. He highlighted the powerful impact of the youth vote in the recent midterm elections last May.
“You showed in the last elections that you really are the true voice of the country. You showed just this last election that you are not just watching on the sidelines…the youth showed that ‘we have the voice, we have control of the future,’” Garcia told students at San Beda College-Alabang.
Garcia stressed the importance of the youth voter registration as a key factor in shaping the nation’s future. He cited last May’s midterm elections, which saw the highest turnout in Philippine history at 82.2 percent, with approximately half of those voters coming from the youth sector.
Comelec Focuses on Youth Voter Registration
“That is the reason why we are here, for example, in San Beda Alabang, because the focus of the Comelec needs to be on the youth,” Garcia emphasized during his visit to the school. His visit was part of the agency’s inspection of registration sites participating in the Special Register Anywhere Program (SRAP).
The SRAP, available until August 7, allows those who cannot return to their hometowns to register as voters wherever they are. This initiative has led to a remarkable spike in youth voter registration nationwide.
“As a conclusion, our request to the San Beda Alabang community, let’s not waste our votes,” Garcia added. “This is the challenge to everyone, we do not have the right to complain against the government when we do not participate in electing our leaders. We need to own the leadership of the country by choosing them, by electing them.”
“This is our duty and, at the same time, our right,” he concluded.
Record-Breaking Voter Registration Numbers
Comelec’s voter registration for the Barangay and SK elections has already surpassed initial expectations. By August 5, over 1 million Filipinos had registered, exceeding the agency’s original target. Garcia described this surge as historic and extraordinary, considering the program only started 10 days prior.
When asked about the cause of the increased turnout, Garcia shared in an interview that many young voters came with their parents and even grandparents. “Either they were obligated, scolded, or the parents are really just accompanying their kids. Even their grandparents were with them… so, it means, this might be the wave of what we call ‘youth voters,’” he said.
Region 4-A (Calabarzon) leads in registrations with 138,843 applicants, followed by Region 3 (Central Luzon) with 113,904 and the National Capital Region with 79,517.
“Our target now is 1.5 million. If we reach that, that is really extraordinary and historic,” Garcia said. “Before, our registration took almost a year, and we only reached around 2 million, but now we might reach 1.5 million in just a matter of 10 days.”
High Registration Despite Possible Election Postponement
The Comelec chief also noted that registration numbers remain robust despite talks of postponing the Barangay and SK elections to November next year. This possible delay follows the anticipated approval of a bill extending the terms of Barangay and SK officials by four years.
Sources noted that the enthusiasm among the youth and their families shows a growing awareness of the power of their vote. This momentum could influence future elections and governance in local communities.
For more news and updates on youth voter registration, visit Filipinokami.com.
