27/03/2026
๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ, ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
On March 24, 2026, the School of Education (SoEd) successfully conducted Mulat na Botante, Matatag na Bayan: Votersโ Education and Civic Responsibility Training at Barangay Dibut, San Luis, Aurora as part of the Learning and Empowerment for All People (LEAP) Extension Program. This initiative aimed to empower community voters by strengthening their understanding of their rights, duties, and responsibilities as citizens in a democratic society.
Anchored in SDG 16 โ Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions and SDG 5 โ Gender Equality, the activity addressed pressing electoral issues such as misinformation, vote-buying, and civic apathy, while promoting informed and ethical participation in elections and inclusive democratic engagement.
The activity featured insightful discussions from distinguished speakers, including Dr. Noriel T. Barangan, who emphasized the importance of voting and how individual participation shapes collective outcomes in a democratic society; Charles R. Velasco, who highlighted the role and voice of women in the electoral process and democratic governance; and Mr. Jefferson T. Bautista, who discussed key election issues such as vote buying and the spread of misinformation, two major challenges that undermine the integrity of elections.
The training also included a hands-on workshop on evaluating candidates, in which participants were encouraged to critically assess candidates based on their platforms, track records, and qualifications rather than on partisan loyalty or incentives.
Through collaborative learning and community engagement, this initiative reaffirmed the vital role of education in building informed voters and strengthening democratic institutions.
Together, we move toward a more empowered citizenry and a stronger nation.