Village and youth elections, a microcosm of Philippine politics
The race is on
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that over 1 million candidates have filed their certificates of candidacy (CoC) for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) elections on October 30.land.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the CoC filing process for the BSKE election had a peaceful start.Comelec released a report showing that 1,181,404 candidates from 82 provinces are competing for 672,016 available positions in BSKE.Of these candidates,65.75% are men (776,781) and 34.25% are women (404,623).
A total of 42,001 seats are up for barangay chairmanship.
Exactly 85,796 people have submitted their CoC.Of these, 78.47% were male, or 67,321 candidates, while 21.53% were female, with 18,475 candidates.
In the race for village councillor, which has 294,007 seats, 638,209 candidates submitted CoCs.Among them, 69.77% are men, equivalent to 445,258 people and 30.23% are women, equivalent to a total of 192,951 candidates.
Sangguniang Kabataan chairmanship attracted 75,434 candidates; 64.39% are men, with 48,572 individuals and 35.61% are women, or 26,862 candidates.
million of people will submit CoCs
It is expected that nearly 2 million people will submit CoCs by the end of this period.
A closer look at the data immediately reveals that in some races, nearly 80% of the candidates are men.
A glance at the names of the young candidates shows that many of them are descendants of politicians who have been in power for decades.
Their father, mother, uncle, aunt, siblings are Governors, Congressmen, Provincial Councilors, Mayors, Deputy Mayors or local councilors.
It seems like they are just continuing the family tradition, or even the family business, of entering politics based on their dynastic name.
A study by the United Nations Development Program found that the Philippines’ 20 poorest provinces were ruled by dynasties that lasted at least 30 years.
There is no incentive to serve well as there is a guarantee of winning the next elections through only nominal recall.
The dominance of political dynasties has hindered the emergence of new leaders
A small group of established families often dominate politics, making it difficult for outsiders with new perspectives to break through.
This has led to stagnation and a lack of innovative policies to meet the changing needs of our diverse society.
Furthermore, the influence of money in politics has increased alarmingly.
Wealthy candidates are often better placed to fund their campaigns, which puts those without adequate financial resources at a significant disadvantage.
This not only prevents the entry of new blood but also maintains a system in which political power is concentrated in the hands of a few.
To create new leaders that truly represent the interests of the people, several important reforms must be considered.
Stricter regulations on spending and campaign contributions must be implemented.
This will create a level playing field and reduce the undue influence of money in politics.
Transparency in election campaign finance also needs to be increased to help voters make informed decisions.
It is time to pass laws that limit the number of family members who can run for and hold elected office.
This will open up opportunities for new faces to enter politics and bring new ideas.
A well-informed electorate is essential to the success of any electoral system.
Investing in voter education programs can help citizens better understand the issues, candidates, and their role in the democratic process.
Finally, encouraging youth political participation is important for renewed leadership.
Initiatives to promote young leaders, such as youth councils and mentoring programs, should be implemented.
While these reforms are not without challenges and may face opposition from vested interests, they are necessary to restore our democracy and pave the way for leaders to can solve the pressing problems of our time.
Change may be met with resistance, but only through change can we achieve progress and innovation.The Philippines is facing an opportunity to reform its electoral system and open a new era of leadership.
By implementing campaign finance reform, addressing political dynasties, and enacting other essential changes, we can create a political landscape where new voices and ideas innovate.can only develop.
This is a difficult but necessary journey to ensure a better and more inclusive future for the country.
