PHILIPPINES

PPVR and FNF Hold Successful Week of Democratic Education and Empowerment in Butuan City

From February 26 to 27, 2025, Butuan City was filled with energy and a strong commitment to democracy as the People Power Volunteers for Reform (PPVR) Caraga, in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Philippines, organized a series of productive events focused on voter education and the promotion of democratic values. The activities aimed to reach diverse groups, including youth and rural communities.

One of the key events was the Seminar-Workshop on "The Role of the Youth in Promoting Free and Democratic Elections," held from February 26 to 27, 2025. Young people from the Caraga Region participated in the workshop, which included five engaging sessions. Topics covered during the sessions included "Elections as a Democratic Process," "Social Media in Elections: Does it Promote Democracy?" "The Character of the Mid-term Elections," "The Importance of Planning Activities/Responses," and "Synthesis."

Mario Alejandro Jacinto Neri, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Management Officer at Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan, served as the main resource person for the youth workshop. The event was formally opened by Dr. Almut Besold, Country Director of FNF Philippines, while former Congressman Erin Tanada and Ms. Chit Asis, Regional Chairperson of PPVR Caraga, spoke during the other sessions.

The evening of February 26 saw the awarding ceremony for the "Paving the Path for Voter’s Rights" social media competition. The winners were:

Grand Winner: Iban Kita

1st Runner-up: Youth Vote Matters

2nd Runner-up: Chica Yott

3rd Runner-up: Fact Snack

4th Runner-up: Katropa Kabilang Ka sa Pagbabago

The winners received plaques in recognition of their efforts. This competition was the culmination of two training sessions held on October 12-13, 2024, which focused on Information Technology and discussed issues such as misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation on social media.

PPVR Caraga is committed to empowering the youth as the future leaders of the region. By promoting democratic values, leadership programs, and youth initiatives, PPVR believes in the vital role of Information Technology in these efforts. FNF Philippines also advocates for youth participation in promoting economic freedoms.

On February 27, a Consultation on Gender Mainstreaming was held in collaboration with the Regional Gender and Development Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority, PPVR, civil society organizations, local government units, the Church, and other stakeholders.

During this event, Ms. Chit Asis presented the preliminary report on the Seminar-Workshop titled “Crafting Gender Codes and Agency Gender Plans in Caraga.” A panel of experts, including former legislators such as Former Senator Leila De Lima, provided feedback and suggested revisions to improve the gender code.

Previously, PPVR and FNF had conducted two seminars on crafting gender codes in Caraga on September 14 and October 4, 2024. These seminars were part of a larger study by PPVR-FNF that mapped women’s legislation, programs, and activities across Caraga’s provinces, cities, municipalities, and national agencies. The seminars encouraged participation from various agencies and LGUs, who shared their gender plans and codes. The resource speakers provided valuable insights and recommendations. It was noted that further input from legislators would be crucial for refining the gender code, which is why this consultation event was organized to gather additional perspectives.

In addition, PPVR coordinated with the Diocese of Butuan Educational System Inc. to host a forum on "Social Media and Democracy" at Father Saturnino Urios University, a private Catholic university in Butuan. Students from the university’s Arts and Sciences program attended the event at the CBE Function Hall. The forum aimed to explore the intersection of social media and democratic processes, promoting responsible digital citizenship and ethical online engagement.

Atty. Leila de Lima, the first nominee of Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist, discussed “Social Media as a Tool for Advocacy and Human Rights Awareness,” while Erin Tañada, the third nominee of ML Partylist, explored “The Ethics of Online Political Campaigning.”

The event provided an opportunity for students and educators to engage with the speakers on the role of social media in democracy and political discourse. An open forum followed, where students and professors asked De Lima questions, further enhancing the dialogue on responsible online engagement.

Looking ahead, PPVR will host another event this March-April—a Parents Orientation on Nation Building. This event aims to educate families on the importance of elections as a democratic process, the right to vote and be voted upon, and constructive engagement at the local level. The orientation will focus on instilling democratic values such as freedom, justice, and human rights while helping parents improve their skills in understanding relationships, psychosocial development, discipline, and reflection.