TAWI-TAWI—The Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) Tawi-Tawi held a seminar on voter’s rights on Tuesday, May 31, at Mahardika Institute of Technology in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
BYC Commissioner for Tawi-Tawi Pratima Sabal Samsaraji led the program, together with BYC Chairperson Marjanie Mimbantas Macasalong and BYC Commissioner Nasserudin Dunding.
Commissioner Samsaraji said the seminar was aimed at making information accessible and available for constituents, and to make them understand their rights and perform their responsibilities as voters.
Rodolfo Matucan, Jr., BYC’s development management services unit head, talked about the type of government, and qualifications, terms of service and responsibilities of national and local elected officials.
“Election is a process in which a people vote to choose a person or group of people to hold a position,” Matucan said.
The discussion also talked about reflections and learnings on the recently concluded national and local elections on May 9.
Several youth leaders and students of the school attended the seminar, who also shared some of their lived experiences during elections.
They said they witnessed faulty vote counting machines, rampant vote-buying, and delayed start of polls.
Matucan added these problems should be taken as ‘problems’ that require actions, and not a ‘norm’ to be ‘sensationalized’ or ‘romanticized.’
Chairperson Macasalong said the youth should take the opportunity to vote in every election, as it is the only time where they can exercise their right to suffrage. (BYC PR Unit)
