By By Juliane Judilla
In a collective effort to ensure the safety and fairness of the upcoming 2025 Midterms Elections, the youth electoral alliance Kabataan Tayo ang Pag-asa (KTAP) was officially launched on Saturday, February 8, in Iloilo City. The event was held as part of the Panay leg of the nationwide KTAP network, bringing together various youth groups committed to upholding democracy and good governance.
The event was led by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) Panay Chapter and the Western Visayas Youth Students Alliance (WVYSA). It gathered a diverse range of participants, including school and community-based youth organizations, university student councils, ecumenical youth ministries, and officials from the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). The launch served as a platform for youth leaders to express their commitment to promoting a responsible and educated electorate ahead of the 2025 elections.
CEGP Panay highlighted the pressing issues currently faced by the nation under the Marcos-Duterte regime. The guild emphasized the significance of the youth’s collective action in addressing these challenges. They called on the youth to unite for a better future by prioritizing voters’ education and supporting good governance in the upcoming elections.
“Despite these challenges, hope springs eternal. The youth is ready to heed the call of the times. Inflamed with the love for country and the people, we accept the challenge to fulfill our role as ‘pag-asa ng bayan’,” CEGP-Panay stated.
“In the realization of the future that we want, we unite to raise awareness of the social realities of the communities, harness our collective aspirations, and enjoin other young people towards genuine social change.” the guild added.
Attorney Josiah Quising of the National Union of People’s Lawyers – National Capital Region (NUPL-NCR) delivered a crucial segment of the event, explaining important electoral laws and regulations. He provided insights into how the party-list system functions, the structure of the upper and lower Congress, and the eligibility requirements for candidates. Quising also shared practical advice on how voters can ensure their ballots are counted properly and reminded the youth participants of their responsibility to select leaders who truly represent their interests.
“Choose a candidate that will also and will always choose you,” he said.
Arlie Bosque of WVYSA further emphasized the vital role the youth will play in the elections. He presented the KTAP 8-point youth agenda, a comprehensive policy framework aimed at addressing the needs and aspirations of young Filipinos. The agenda includes initiatives that promote youth participation in politics, education, and social welfare, among other key sectors.
KTAP, first launched in 2015, is the only youth campaign movement for new politics. As the nation gears up for the 2025 Midterms, KTAP’s efforts to encourage voter education, fair practices, and active political engagement are expected to contribute to a more informed and empowered electorate. KTAP aims to build a strong and unified network of youth organizations with more activities set to be conducted in the whole province of Iloilo, committed to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that the 2025 elections reflect the will of the people./PT
