MSUMag, BYC Partner for Voters’ Empowerment Forum for the Youth
MSU-Maguindanao through the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) and Supreme Student Council (SSC), in partnership with the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC), conducted a Voters’ Empowerment Forum for the Youth on January 31, 2025, at the DOS Gymnasium. The forum gathered 1,300 students to discuss the significance of youth participation in democratic processes.
Chancellor Dr. Bai Hejira Nefertiti M. Limbona supports the initiative, as it is essential for students and young leaders to understand their responsibility in shaping the future of Bangsamoro through active and responsible participation in the electoral process.
BYC Commissioner Nasserudin D. Dunding, MAPDS, implied that voting is not just a right but also a fundamental means of expressing one’s beliefs, values as young people, and concern for the well-being of the community. “Ang kampanya para sa kabataang may alam—isang kabataang may kaalaman sa proseso ng eleksyon—ay isang kabataang inihahanda ng Pamahalaang Bangsamoro para sa darating na eleksyon sa 2025. Ito ay magdadala ng maraming pagbabago sa ating buhay at magtatakda ng mga programang naaayon sa mga pangangailangan natin bilang kabataan,” he said.
Some of the highlights included a presentation on the salient features of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code by Gerardo T. Concepcion III, Representative from the Speakers’ Bureau; a demonstration of the Automated Counting Machine (ACM) and a discussion on election offenses conducted by Election Officer III Bai Maceda L. Abo, JD, SCL of the Commission on Elections; and a talk on the Bangsamoro Religious Perspective on Elections by Mr. Saiful Islam Gayak. The students actively participated by asking questions and taking part in a sample voting exercise using the ACM.
The Voters’ Empowerment Forum for the Youth aimed to bring together young leaders from across the Bangsamoro region, highlighting their role in shaping public opinion and actively participating in democratic processes. The event also provided essential information on the Bangsamoro Electoral Code of 2023 and the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2024, which set the foundation for a more inclusive and representative electoral system in the Bangsamoro region.
Present were representatives from BYC, VCAF Madame Angelita Datucan, IPDM Director Alvin Lois Pembarat, DSA Director Julmaherria Salipada, SSC Officers, staff, and students.
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