Now that the youth have spoken, elders must heed their call

Originally published in Manila Bulletin

Now that the national tally is complete and the ballots have been counted, the significance of the youngest cohorts’ turnout cannot be overstated. Filipino millennials and members of Generation Z, long dismissed as disengaged or apathetic, mobilized in historic numbers and delivered their verdict at the polls. Of the 68.4 million voters registered, 40.2 million came from voters under 45, a demographic majority that has spoken with unprecedented clarity.

This electoral wave did not arise from happenstance but from lived experience: economic precarity, environmental threats, digital transformation, and demands for social justice. Elders in government, parties, and civil society now face a mandate to recalibrate policies and practices in alignment with the priorities of a younger electorate. To ignore this call is to risk governing in a vacuum.

Youth voters bring renewed urgency to critical issues defining the nation’s trajectory. Climate disruption has struck communities with super typhoons, floods, and heat waves, making environmental policy a matter of survival rather than abstraction. For many, employment is precarious and underpaid, and rising living costs weigh heavily on household budgets.

As digital natives, younger Filipinos navigate the promises and perils of social media, algorithmic influence, and data privacy. Their advocacy for regulations on online platforms and transparent e-governance services reflects a generation determined to shape technology as a tool for empowerment. Social justice movements led by young activists have further underscored demands for equity across gender, ethnicity, and class.

This electoral shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. When elders dominate policy debates without integrating emerging perspectives, they risk alienating the very citizens whose participation legitimizes democratic governance. Disregarding youth priorities breeds cynicism and apathy, eroding trust in institutions and weakening civic cohesion.

Conversely, embracing intergenerational collaboration can unleash creative solutions drawn from diverse experiences and skill sets. Political parties, legislative bodies, and civic groups should recognize that the youth electorate is not a monolith but a mosaic of aspirations united by a shared stake in fiscal stability, environmental security, and social inclusion. Responding to this mandate requires humility from established leaders and openness to co-creation of policies that resonate with 21st century realities.

Concrete steps are needed now that the votes have been cast. Elders can institutionalize youth participation through advisory councils endowed with real authority, quotas for under-30 candidates in party leadership, and regular intergenerational forums to discuss priorities. Public agencies should launch digital engagement platforms through social and digital channels to solicit feedback on legislation.

Educational and community institutions must foster civic education, equipping youth with tools to hold leaders accountable. Forging partnerships, elders can tap into the energy and creativity of youth to drive progress. These measures not only honor the electoral verdict but strengthen democratic resilience. The voice of the youth has already reshaped the outcome at the ballot box; it now demands a hearing in the halls of power. Elders must heed this call and commit to governing alongside those who will inherit tomorrow’s Philippines.

This opinion column is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). You are free to share, adapt, and redistribute this content, provided appropriate credit is given to the author and original source.