CHR’s #AkoBatayan empowers youth to become responsible voters, agents of change
By Mariesh F. Celedeña
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga has called on the youth to become responsible, informed, and rights-based voters through the launch of the #AkoBatayan campaign, a youth empowerment initiative to prepare future leaders for the 2026 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
“The phrase ‘Ang Kabataan ang Pag-asa ng Bayan’ is not just a declaration, but a whisper of hope,” said Attorney Aurora Luanne R. Cembrano, regional director of CHR Caraga, during the campaign launch on June 25 at the Caraga State University gymnasium in Barangay Ampayon, Butuan City.
The #AkoBatayan campaign is a fusion of the words Ako which means me, and batayan or standard or foundation, underscoring the role of young people as rights-based agents of change and nation-builders. The initiative encourages the youth to uphold human rights, make informed decisions, and become catalysts for positive transformation in their communities.
Spearheaded by CHR Caraga in partnership with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the National Youth Commission (NYC), the campaign seeks to strengthen civic participation and promote responsible voting among the country’s young electorate ahead of the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan local elections.
Cembrano underscored the significant influence of the youth in shaping the country’s future, noting that voter turnout among young Filipinos reached 82 percent during the previous midterm elections. However, she stressed that high voter participation alone is not enough.
“This high voter turnout does not necessarily mean that all votes are informed, critical, and grounded in human rights. That is why we are conducting this activity, to encourage the youth to vote not out of necessity, but with purpose,” she said.
Youth leaders from Propelling Our Inherited Nation Through Our Youth (POINTY, Inc.), Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo (KKDAT), student organizations, the Provincial Youth Development Council (PYDC), and other youth groups actively participated in the event.
Expressing the youth’s commitment, Charlene Jade C. Otero, a student of Caraga State University and president of the CSU Sociological Society, emphasized the importance of understanding the needs of society and using one’s voice responsibly.
“As cliché as it may sound, we vow to use our voices wisely and responsibly. That means choosing our leaders through informed voting by getting to know the candidates, especially since the youth recorded a high voter turnout in the last election,” Otero said.
Through #AkoBatayan, CHR Caraga hopes to cultivate a new generation of voters who value human rights, critical thinking, and good governance, recognizing that the youth play a vital role in building a more accountable, inclusive, and democratic Philippines. (MFC, PIA Caraga)
