shano

Saying that the youth are becoming auditory-impaired with the politicians’ sudden voice of concern towards the youth, the Catanduanes Chapter of Kabataan Partylist , the only sectoral youth party running this May polls, asked that politicians sign a social contract to prove their sincerity.

"Candidates often use the word Kabataan and Edukasyon in their campaign advertisements, and we are not surprised. Definitely, these politicians are courting the youth vote thus the bombardment of platforms that are pleasant to hear, but the youth are not gullible enough to believe them instantaneously and wholly," Kabataan said in a statement.

The group said that in the face of latest surveys indicating that many youth today have not shown much interest in participating in the upcoming midterm election, it is undeniable that the youth sector is still a force to reckon with.

"We dare candidates to put into paper their platforms for the youth. Sign a waiver or anything to this effect that would warrant payback measures. The people have been fooled many times already. It’s high time that the youth put a stop on this, and demand accountability," it added.

The statement also asked candidates to condemn the unabated increase in tuition and other fees, the ever decreasing budget for education and healthcare and its disparity to debt servicing and military budgets and the commercialized, colonial and repressive educational system in the country.

"If these candidates are really for the youth, then they should stop their empty rhetoric and vague pronouncement. We need concrete plans and their political will," Kabataan said.

On the other hand, the Kabataan Partylist is determined to win a seat in congress through the party list system. Having campuses and "tambayans" as their headquarters, the group launched a high tech, unorthodox, and according to them, "matipid" campaign strategy. Tapping the help of celebrity members of their group like Angel Locsin, Ciarra Sotto, the Brownman Revival and Dennis Trillo to name a few, they produced a two-minute video stating what they called as the Youth Agenda this election. It can be uploaded in www.youtube.com and so far ranked 35^{th in the most viewed category. Kabataan also have their own web site designed by students from different universities in manila and can be accessed at www.kabataanparty.com. It contains all the information about the said party.}