Butuan SKs call on youth sector to exercise their right to vote
BUTUAN CITY – With the upcoming May 2022 national and local elections, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials of this city called on the youth sector to actively participate in the elections and exercise their right to vote.
Cynth Zephanee Nietes, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation President of Butuan City, shared how the SKs take part in the advocacy to convince other youths to exercise their right to vote especially with the upcoming May 2022 national and local elections.
“We did online campaigns, urging people to register to vote in the coming May 9 elections, especially the youth. We also partnered with an NGO and the Commission on Human Rights on a Vote One for Peace Seminar in Barangay Tungao. I want to have this advocacy for Kalinaw -- we want candidates who advocate for peace, and we want to send a message to young people that their vote counts. 60% of voters according to the COMELEC City Officer are from the youth sector; other organizations are advocating the youth to register as well,” she said.
Nietes also recounted the efforts of the youths for the education sector. “We partnered with a lot of government agencies and NGOs for modules, as well as distribution of bond papers. Some SK councils like JP Rizal, Los Angeles, and Libertad are institutionalizing the provision of incentives or subsidies to college students through ordinances. We could provide them with a subsidy of Php2,000, which will be a big help for students in Butuan City. The Alternative Learning System in Butuan City is active and very useful, even in the barangays. We also provided printers to the different barangays,” she said.
When it comes to entrepreneurship, Nietes also revealed that they have been working with other stakeholders to help the youth in their business endeavors.
“We partnered with DTI and came up with 'ButuanOn Youth CAN' where you will pitch a project to a panel who are business owners to change the youth’s mindset that running a business is easy. We also have a partnership with LeadCom Ayala for an agri-preneurship concept. Fortunately also, Butuan City won in the Bloomberg Mayor’s Challenge AgriBoost Project, which has a big impact on the youth sector who are also into farming/agriculture. Our year 2 LeadCom Ayala focuses on agri-preneurship and on encouraging young people to do farming,” said Nietes. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
