The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the Negros Island Region has launched an innovative voter education drive in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, aimed at boosting civic involvement among young citizens ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) set for November 2.
Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, Regional Election Director, revealed Thursday that a memorandum of agreement for Project Values-driven, Organized, Technologically Empowered Youth (VOTE Youth) was formalized Wednesday.
The agreement brings together COMELEC, the Tanjay City local government, the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).
The campaign was originally conceptualized by Atty. Felicisimo Catacutan Jr., Tanjay City Election Officer.
Castillano noted that the project intends to broaden voter instruction within academic institutions while reinforcing nationwide poll body efforts to encourage informed civic participation.
”The initiative supports the thrust of COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia to enhance voter education among young Filipinos nationwide,” he said.
He further noted that the strategy helps preserve the electoral body’s educational outreach despite facing decreased allocations for information drives.
”On our own, we are also trying to reach out to the young people so that they would know the importance of their vote,” he added.
While Tanjay City serves as the pilot site for VOTE Youth, COMELEC intends to scale the program across other municipalities throughout the Negros Island Region by leveraging joint ventures with LGUs, DepEd, and the PPCRV.
“The COMELEC has to find innovative ways to sustain voter education despite budget constraints,” Castillano said, emphasizing that collaboration with partner organizations is essential to reaching more young voters.
The initiative urges youth to actively shape the democratic landscape by voting, rejecting vote-buying tactics, engaging in civic matters, or even running for local office in the upcoming BSKE.
Castillano highlighted that the project operates strictly without political bias, focusing on instilling voter responsibility and national civic duty without steering voters toward specific contenders.
The upcoming local and youth council polls are scheduled for November 2, with the voter registration period closing on September 30. Over 15 million registered youth voters are expected to cast ballots across 41,880 barangays across the country.
Under Republic Act No. 10742, known as the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, elected SK representatives serve three-year terms centered on directing community-level youth development projects.
COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia has repeatedly underscored voter education as a core agency mandate, maintaining that well-informed voters are fundamental to securing credible and orderly elections.
He reiterated that the Commission continues to build cross-sectoral alliances to strengthen public awareness, particularly among first-time youth voters.