A NON-PARTISAN coalition of youth organizations from various causes and sectors is uniting to launch the Bacolod Youth Coalition for Democracy (BaCoD) on May 15, 9 a.m. at Saint John Mary Vianney Hall, San Sebastian Cathedral to push for youth voters registration, education, and empowerment.

The launching event entitled “Bangon, Pamatan-on!” aims to introduce BaCoD to the public and to get youth leaders to sign a manifesto of support for the coalition composed of student councils, campus-based organizations, Sangguniang Kabataan, and the youth arms of civil society organizations.

Moreover, the public launch also intends to invite other youth formations from different sectors such as young professionals, religious youth organizations, and the likes.

“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,” said 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. It intends to increase youth voter registration and turnout by making voter registration accessible to the youth, as well as develop relevant, innovative and engaging voters’ education programs to intensify campaigns for the 2022 national elections through collectivizing efforts for the youth.

“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.

BaCoD also aims to take on grassroots-centered initiatives that will make registration and voting accessible to every youth while instituting voters’ education programs on a more localized and issue-based level, especially within campus grounds and barangay communities.

Alongside these efforts, the coalition will be extending its functions to craft a multisectoral issue-based agenda representative of the calls and needs of Bacolodnon youth amidst the backdrop of campaigns for good governance and civic participation.

“Educating our young voters must really be a priority because we might not care about choosing our political leaders now, but in the coming years where we will be affected by the policies they will be implementing, we will realize that it is important to have a say, to make a choice and to take part in the election to protect our interests in the real world. That is why we are encouraging more youth organizations to be with us in realizing our goals and help create a better community,” Villaflor said.