To empower young voters and prepare for the upcoming 2025 midyear elections, a voter’s education initiative will be launched to enhance knowledge and awareness among first-time voters, youth, and the general public.Top of FormBottom of Form The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) and the University of San Carlos, will launch the “Apil ‘Ta, Bai!” Voter Education Campaign, on February 19, 2025 to empower Cebuanos to make informed decisions when choosing their elected leaders.
During the 2022 elections, there were around 21 million voters aged 18 to 30. According to the Pulse Asia’s 2022 study, a significant portion of these voters had been approached with financial incentives or goods by candidates or their supporters. This was particularly high in Cebu, where 18% of voters reported such encounters, slightly above the national average of 15%. This survey shows the need for greater voter education.
In response to this need, this campaign will have a series of interactive activities, workshops, forums, and a social media campaign focused on voter education. It is targeted for first-time voters, the youth, and sectoral representatives to help them make informed decisions on key sectoral issues and encourage participation in upcoming elections.
Key Campaign Events:
- Klarohay ‘Ta! 3.0
This consists of a series of episodes focusing on critical sectoral issues such as Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), Disaster Preparedness, Culture and Heritage, Youth Civic Engagement, Health, Education, and Environment. Each episode will feature invited resource speakers who will share their insights and plans for addressing sectoral issues.
- Pili ‘Ta, Bai!
This is a series of Voters Education Caravan targeting three schools in Cebu. The goal is to educate and raise awareness about the importance of voting and how to make informed decisions when choosing the right candidates during elections. The caravan will specifically target first-time voters and youth.
Through this initiative RAFI and USC hopes to emphasize that local leadership plays a role in driving change, and that effective governance begins with educated, engaged voters who understand the challenges facing their communities. We hope to empower the community members to push for good governance, enhance civic responsibility, and choose leaders who will drive positive change.
