Laoag City,Ilocos Norte, Oct 1 (PNA) –The Ilocano youth is making their presence felt in Ilocos Norte, using the influence of social media as a tool to engage youth volunteerism and participation in the next Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or youth council elections by early 2015.
In Ilocos Norte, the provincial Commission on Elections (COMELEC) reported at least 6,731 Ilocanos aged 15 to 17 who went in droves during the 10-day SK registration from September 20 to 29, 2014.
Amidst super typhoon Mario that battered Northern Luzon and putting Ilocos Norte under state of calamity, the SIRIB youth office of the provincial government of Ilocos Norte manned by the Sirib Ilokano Kabataan Association (SIKA) were able to encourage and inspire qualified SK voters to go to their nearest COMELEC office and beat the September 29 deadline for registration.
Regional Election Director Noli Pipo of COMELEC Region 1 said in an interview the SK registration will not be extended in the province.
The successful turnout of SK registration in Ilocos Norte may have been attributed to SIKA’s initiative challenging all qualified SK voters in Facebook to say “Yes to youth participation” by posting their photos online with their duly accomplished registration form.
Similar to the ice bucket challenge, every registered SK will identify and challenge at least three of his friends to do the same in support of the SK 2015 elections.
Aside from social media challenge, posters and streamers about the SK registration period were also posted in strategic places such as in schools and government buildings.
As of July 2013, there are about 9,391 who registered as SK.(PNA)