The Philippines is getting ready for the 2025 elections, and the future of the country, especially the children who are the most vulnerable members of society, largely relies on the voters. Although most people consider the 2025 elections to be a political event, it is far more significant than that, as this event will have a significant impact on how children's futures are shaped. The future of the children is in the hands of the voters as each vote that they cast, all the citizens, may it be children, women, and elderly, are affected since the voters have the ability to choose who is the most qualified, competent, and knowledgeable when it comes to the creation and implementation of laws and policies regarding childrens’ right. Voting can significantly affect a child's future, and it is especially crucial for parents because elected officials will be able to fight for their children's rights. Voting is crucial both for parents and children since their vote can significantly make a difference. (NoKidHungry, 2024)

 

There are many challenges that children face every day that need to be addressed, such as poverty, hunger, lack of access to education, bullying, abuse, etc. With the electorate's knowledge when it comes to voting, they can make a change for the future of the children, as the candidates who will emerge victorious in the 2025 elections may strengthen and improvise measures to find sustainable solutions to these problems. (NoKidHungry, 2024)

 With competent leaders and law-abiding citizens, it is not impossible to change the future of children and build a better society for them. However, many considerations are in play in achieving this since misinformation and fake news are relevant, especially now that society is in the digital age.

 

In January 2024, the Philippines had around 86.75% million social media users, which equates to 73.4% of the total population (DataReportal, 2024). Out of 1,200, about 86% of Filipinos agreed that fake news is a problem in the country. At the same time, around 58% responded that social media influencers are the primary source of misinformation (Lalu, 2022). This data is concerning as 90% of Filipinos who have access to the internet spend around four hours scrolling on social media, and most of them rely on and trust social media as their source of information (Quitzon, 2021). It is more likely that they will consume fake news and believe the propaganda that they see on the internet. 

 

Additionally, 94% of people aged 18–29 own and use a smartphone, compared to just 38% of older adults aged 50 and above. Similarly, 86% of internet users have at least completed secondary education, while only 44% of those with lower education levels go online. 

 

According to Article V of the 1987 Constitution, as children do not have the power to vote in the elections , adults of legal age will have to advocate for children’s issues by voting for leaders whose policies and actions would advance the welfare of the youth. Voting will help the electorate appreciate what children’s rights entail and, therefore, elect appropriate candidates who will enact laws and initiate programs to ease the plight of the future generation. As Türkelli and colleagues (2021) stated, voting has to become meaningful, and to do so, voters must be aware and have the desire to participate in the election process votes without an intention to give meaningless actions. 

 

It has been demonstrated that educating voters about policies that need to be implemented and the problems that need to be resolved will help advance the interests of children – such as providing opportunities for children to receive a good education as well as healthcare and a secure environment. For instance, the Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) led to the creation of the Women and Children Protection Desk and the Women and Children Protection Unit stationed in DOH retained hospitals (Montemayor, 2024). The public pressure gained from both women’s and children’s rights groups has played a role in electing candidates who advocate for the passage of this legislation. Engaged voters also assist in bridging the gap between the policymakers and the children's needs so that the children are involved and given a fair environment.

 

Elections matter as the youth strive to create a better future for generations to come. The citizens can work for policy change as their votes determine who is in the positions of power and who the relevant parties are. They are able to decide the core values of how the country will be managed. With the difficulties encountered during elections, there was widespread educational voting, and schools supported this initiative by promoting responsible voting behavior among learners through seminars or lectures during election periods. The University of Santo Tomas once held a webinar on April 5, 2022, titled “The jUST Vote: Highlighting the Importance of Citizen Journalism and the Role of Media during a Pandemic Election.” The event aims to raise awareness and continue how the school institutions, media, youth, and other sectors can collaborate for a fair election (Malgapu, 2022). Initiatives like this lead to youth and citizens participating in online and offline civic engagements during the election season. 

 

During the 2022 national elections, most registered voters were 32.7 million between 18 and 30 (Jorge, 2022). Currently, COMELEC stated that about 20 million Filipinos from Generation Z are expected to cast votes in the 2025 midterm elections (Serquiña, 2024). This indicates their growing role in determining the future of the country. Therefore, responsible citizens are being created because of the initiatives undertaken to promote holding educational webinars where citizens make decisions that are well-informed.

 

In the upcoming election, the involvement and participation of voters in the electoral process serve as a catalyst in making a change for the future of children's rights ensuring that it is given importance. Until now, the youth sector faces challenges to achieve an environment that caters to their well-being. Civic organizations and groups advocating for children's rights are still rampant in voicing out the difficulties that children have to face in society. As such, the election for 2025 plays a crucial role in making a change for the future of the younger generation. Qualified voters must be well-informed and educated on the process of voting and electing leaders who would help foster the needs of the children. As fake news and misinformation become a trend every election, voters must be able to identify the type of sources that are reliable and factual. With the increasing number of voters, particularly from the younger generation, and the rise of initiatives of educating voters through seminars or lectures there is hope for a more informed and responsible electorate that prioritizes the welfare of children and the youth.