A COVENANT WITH THE YOUTH

A PROMISE OF CHANGE

We, candidates running for national positions regardless of our political affiliations believe that we are first and foremost public servants and responsible stewards of our nation’s future.

We stand united in the aim of bringing to fruition genuine change for the people’s welfare. In recognition of the youth’s role, we pledge to give crucial attention to development of our young men and women in their role as the country’s hope and as agents of change.

We thus affix our signatures as a declaration of our firm commitment to the advancement of the youth’s democratic rights and welfare.

We firmly believe that education is a basic right that every Filipino should enjoy. We pledge to increase state spending on education up to 6% of the Gross Domestic Product in order to ensure free and accessible education at all levels. Also, tuition and other fee increases should also be regulated. We pledge to expand educational services and support policies that will widen the people’s access to education.

We pledge to pursue policies for the advancement of the democratic rights of students. The right to organize must be upheld at all times. We promise to support the establishment of student councils and campus publications in all schools nationwide; and probe violations of the basic rights of students. Only when the youth exercise their democratic rights can they sufficiently rehearse their role in society.

We pledge to work for the development of a nationalist and relevant curriculum. Sufficient investment in science, research and technology development should be attuned to the actual needs of our people.

Existing institutions such as the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education must be re-evaluated and their regulatory powers strengthened. Transparency in the implementation of education programs is also needed.

Existing policies such as the Education Act of 1982 and the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 must be reviewed and amended. Future proposals that hinder the enjoyment of education as a basic right of the people must be rejected.

We pledge to actively involve the youth in matters of public concern, allow them to air their principled agreements and disagreements with the government and its officials. We pledge to reject policies and state actions that will prevent and suppress the youth from exercising their constitutional right to free speech and expression.

We pledge to promote policies that will provide economic opportunities for young men and women. We pledge to reject policies that will worsen the youth and the nation’s dependence on foreign jobs, technology and capital. We pledge to protect the environment so that we and succeeding generations can enjoy its riches and blessings.

We pledge to continue and intensify the fight for good governance which stands for honest and efficient public service from government officials. We will not allow any form of fraud, plunder, and deceit in the government. We will actively fight against and prosecute corrupt and abusive officials.

We vow to serve the people with all honesty and dedication in pursuance of genuine social change for a brighter future for our nation.

Conforme:

Sen. Manny Villar

Sen. Loren Legarda

Rep. Satur Ocampo

Rep. Liza Maza

Atty. Adel Tamano

Gilbert Remulla

Sen. Pia Cayetano

Atty. Gwen Pimentel

Silvestre Bello III

Apolinario “Jun” Lozada

Rep. Rufino Biazon

KABATAAN Partylist

National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP)

College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)

Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP)

League of Filipino Students

ANAKBAYAN

Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan (KARATULA)

Youth ACT Now! (Youth for Truth and Accountability Now)