Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Children cannot vote but the MiniPinas 2016 Debates held in Quezon City on Tuesday (May 3) argued that children’s issues are national concerns, too.
The Bata Muna Movement and the Children Talk to Children Coalition (C2C) organized a mock presidential debate discussing the agenda of Filipino children in the upcoming elections.
Boy Binay, Dodong Duterte, Miriam Young, Girl Poe, and Kid Roxas — child-imitators of the current presidential candidates — urged voters to choose leaders that have concrete plans for children.
The kid-candidates answered questions from moderators Mike-liit Enriquez, Cutie Cruz Valdez, and Karenina Davila.
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A coalition of civil society organizations working for children’s rights, Bata Muna hopes candidates have programs that promote safe living conditions, sufficient family income, free healthcare, and free quality education.
The group also called on the passage of anti-child trafficking, anti-child labor, and juvenile justice and welfare laws, as well as the Positive Discipline Act, which bans corporal punishment for children.
“A competent leader has ready solutions to the issues faced by every sector, including the children’s sector,” said Erica, C2C Project Team Member.
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“Hindi invisible ang mga bata. Ang mga bata ay may partikular na issue, may partikular na agenda na dapat ay pinapakinggan ng mga kandidato at mga botante,” said Dennis Velasco, Bata Muna Convenor for NCR.
[Translation: “Children are not invisible. Children have particular issues and a particular agenda that must be heard by candidates and voters.”]
In a statement, he said that “the failure to address children’s issues is a violation of children’s rights and may hinder the country’s growth.”
According to Bata Muna, children comprise 44 percent of the Philippine populaton.
CNN Philippines’ Menchu Macapagal contributed to this report.
