ON POINT ADVOCACY. BAGWIS scribes joined the Youth-led Network for the Right to Information (YNFORM) National Conference in the quest to fight disinformation and to promote the right to information.
By: Herkurt Tamba and Aubrey Maye Arrieta
In order to fight for disinformation and promote the right to information, Bagwis joined forces with Information Champions (ICs) and Youth Organizations (YOs) across the Philippines during the Youth-led Network for the Right to Information (YNFORM) National Conference, November 30.
Bagwis scribe Leonard Tucjayao, as the Mindanao YNFORMer representative, was given the platform to share the status of disinformation in the locality. He asserted that, "the permeation of disinformation took advantage of and victimized those deemed vulnerable stakeholders in the society elderlies, the poor, the youth, and it did not spare even students who pursue higher education in both private and public educational institutions."
Tucjayao also urged everyone to join and be a volunteer for YNFORM since this program provides people with the platform to check and verify the information we consume in in-person interactions and on social media.
"For democracy to thrive and be sustained, democrats must be equipped with the right information and be accountable for using that information to empower people," Shenna Kim Carisma, a consortium member of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Philippines, emphasized in her advocacy speech.
The said event launched YNFORM as the biggest and largest network of youth advocates from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. These pooled leaders, volunteers, and media figures are equipped with skills and knowledge during their capacity-building training held in their respective regions to combat disinformation and promote the right to information.
ADVOCATES OUT. There are 21 educational institutions, 23 communities, and 58 youth organizations partcipated to realize the causes of YNFORM.
ROADS MAPPED OUT
Nestie Bryal Villaviray, the project officer for organizing the event, also mapped out the plans and programs that YOs will undertake for the year 2023.
The Luzon YOs will initiate the creation of grass-roots dialogues on education, gender, politics, and technology. Visayas, on the other hand, identified two core grounds: education and politics, while Mindanao focused on education and environment.
In total, there are 44 grass-roots dialogues that will take place under the 2023 plan, with 21 educational institutions, 23 communities, and 58 youth organizations participating to advance such causes.
The info champs also took their fair share in the event as the committee assigned for the platform launching of YNFORM. The ICs are tasked with the production of content that will be published on the YNFORM Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels. Moreover, Ceasar Bacaling, Project Officer for Advocacy, had laid out content for broadcasting on the said digital spaces, such as The Information Diaries and For Your Information.
The said event was held at the Hive Hotel in Metro Manila. Mindanao and Visayas participants made their presence felt virtually, while some Luzon YNFORMers were able to participate in person. The national conference was successfully conducted because of the efforts and initiative of the YNFORM staff.
YNFORM is a three-year project spearheaded by the Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking (CYAN Pilipinas) in partnership with Friedrich Ebery Stiftung Philippines (FES-PH) and Generation Peace (GenPeace) and is sponsored by the European Union. This project ought to support and strengthen civic society organizations and human rights defenders working in critical human rights and democracy issues in the country.
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