APC presents studies in PARTICIPATE’s forum and workshop on the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections

The Ateneo Policy Center, the policy think tank of the Ateneo School of Government, presented insights from their research studies during a forum titled "Gen Z Votes: Inspiring Change through the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE)." Organized by PARTICIPATE, the forum and workshop were held last 4 to 5 September 2023 at The Plaza Lodge Hotel to broaden the understanding of the participants on the roles and responsibilities of barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) leaders, as well as equip participants with the right tools and strategies to combat misinformation and disinformation at the barangay and SK levels.

Ms Gabrielle Ann Mendoza, research associate, presented their paper entitled “Beyond Democrats and Authoritarians: Clustering Democratic Attitudes in the Philippines." To see how the country's unique case of democratic struggle and authoritarian nostalgia can influence the youth’s commitment to democracy, their study clustered political attitudes among Filipino youth college students through the Pinoy Voter's Vibe Consortium to lay down guidelines for a targeted approach to youth voter education that addresses their distinct concerns. 

Meanwhile, Mr Kier Ballar, research assistant and statistician, presented their study on the impact of the 2015 SK Reform Law on youth political participation and governance in the country. The study showed that most of the key provisions of the SK Reform Law strengthened the SK, making it more responsive and relevant to the needs of the youth. However, the study also highlighted the need for improving the implementation of the Law and provided a roadmap for future reforms on the SK.

The event was attended by numerous students from different universities including UP Baguio, St Louis University, and the University of the Cordilleras.