EDITORIAL
President Marcos Jr. took the opportunity of addressing all Filipino youths at the induction ceremonies in Malacañang for the newly elected officers of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) National and Island Representatives last Wednesday.
Like any national leader before him, Marcos recognized the importance of the Filipino youth to national development, and so he urged the younger generation to get involved in governance and political discourse, as he vowed complete support to them from the national government.
“Kung mayroon kayong nakikitang mas magandang pamamaraan, sabihin ninyo. Isigaw ninyo. Iyong mga matatanda, hindi makikinig sa inyo, pero pilitin nyo. Lahat naman pagka may pangyayari na ganyan, sasabihin — kung maganda ang naging resulta, anong masama doon? Kung hindi matagumpay, hindi maganda ang lumabas, hindi bale, sige next, subukan natin ibang bagay, subukan natin ibang sistema,” he stated.
Unlike Dr. Jose Rizal who also put his faith in the Filipino youth although in another age and under much different circumstances, President Bongbong acknowledged that modern technology and the young people’s mastery of it will have plenty of impact on the economic and political aspects of this nation.
While technology wasn’t important several decades ago, things have changed, President Marcos stressed, noting the country now needs the intuitive and instinctive knowledge of the youth.
“The future is going to be technology driven, and that is why the natural instinct of younger people, when it comes to technology, is important. It has to be part of all our thinking. It has to be part of all our planning,” President Marcos said.
We beg to disagree on the first premise. Technology was important, too, several decades ago, even one or two centuries ago, but its relevance today has scaled up many times over because of the booming world population and the planet’s dwindling natural resources. This situation results in extreme competition among nations, and technology is but a tool to get ahead.
The President noted that with the Filipino youth becoming probably the youngest workforce in Asia averaging 25 years old, it is important that young people get involved in social debate and governance. In addition, the country needs the energy of young people, their “new blood”, particularly with the current advancements in technology and cyberspace, which have become very important part of people’s lives.
It is worth noting that Republic Act 10742 or the SK Reform Act of 2015 was passed to encourage youth participation in local governance. Among the SK programs and projects include establishing the Local Youth Offices that administer youth programs and advocate youth rights; setting the Local Youth Development Plan that serves as roadmap for the youth development; and implementing the Local Development Council to enhance centric policies and programs.
The law should be utilized to its fullest to enable the local government units, particularly the barangays, in the government’s decision-making, planning, and the nation’s hope for the future.
“So, we have to hear from the young people. We have to hear from the ordinary citizens what is the future that you want? What is the future that you feel we can achieve? And how do you suggest that we do it?” President Marcos said.
“These questions are very, very important and these are questions that we ask of the local government and I promise you, we will listen to those answers,” he emphasized. He said that what the national leaders are doing is not intended for the older generation, but for the country’s young people and the new generation.
We note here that the Chief Executive has solicited ideas, questions, information and suggestions from the citizens, mostly the young kind, and he intends to listen, promising us that he would.
Let us hold him to his word.
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