Jamora: retool SK; challenges youth to take active role in polls
Iloilo City Mayoralty candidate Larry Jamora yesterday called for a retooling of the Sangguniang Kabataan even as he urged the youth sector to take a more active role in the forthcoming elections.
Speaking at an assembly of student-leaders belonging to the Student Council Association of the Philippines, Jamora said he is against the abolition of the SK as proposed by certain quarters. While admitting that the SK has been tainted by politics, Jamora, “we should not destroy an entire house because of a few rotten lumber.”
“What is important is to shield the SK from dirty politics and the bad example set by their elders,” Jamora said. “We must strengthen the SK to protect the youth from getting corrupted at an early age.”
At the same time, Jamora challenged the youth to take an active role in the forthcoming elections. Jamora pointed out to the youth that “many messages by the candidates are artful but meaningless, devoid of any reason nor relevance.”
“Be critical and vigilant,” he urged the youth even as he pointed out that some candidates “focus their campaign solely on the results of a truncated survey and nothing else. There’s not even a half hearted attempt to present the simple semblance of a platform of government, much less a vision for the city of Iloilo . Even more unfortunate is the fact that they are incumbent officials who seem more afraid to talk about their track record in office. If indeed they had a track record their mothers can be proud of.”
“This is a trap,” said Jamora, “an insidious and ignoble attempt to trivialize the election and reduce it to a popularity contest.”
Jamora reminded the youth: “When you see your neighbors or your friends trading their vote for cash or other material consideration, remember, it is your future they are selling to the highest bidder. When you see your peers and the uninformed getting easily influenced by cheap gimmickry and showbiz antics, it is your possible career they are putting on the line.”
Because of Jamora’s outstanding performance in the various candidates forums held recently, Jamora has drawn a large following among the youth and student sector of the city. Already he has received quite a number of invitations as speaker to youth assemblies.
“Jamora is clearly the only candidate for mayor with a clear vision and concrete program for the city of Iloilo,” the student leaders pointed. “We will support him.”
