Cebu young voters back VP Sara's presidential run

Youth representation and the strategic role of the Visayas in national elections also took their share during the launching forum of the Cebu Alliance for Duterte 2028, where speakers discussed the potential presidential run of Vice President Sara Duterte.

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Wince dela Fuente, youth representative of the Cebu Alliance for Duterte 2028, speaks during the gathering.

(Mitchelle Palaupsanon)

Speaking during the event, youth representative of the alliance, Wince dela Fuente, emphasized the importance of understanding the political behavior of younger voters, noting that the youth sector is composed of two major generations: Generation Z and Millennials.

"I hope everyone understands this: the youth of today is not just one generation. It is not monolithic," dela Fuente said in his presentation.

He explained that Generation Z, which comprises around 18.3 million voters aged 18 to 28, are digital natives who grew up consuming content primarily through social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube rather than traditional television.

Dela Fuente added that many Gen Z voters remain skeptical and have not yet committed to any political camps. While some carry anti-Marcos sentiments, he said this does not necessarily translate to opposition to the Duterte political movement.

"What it means is that many young people are hungry for an alternative, and we believe that alternative is Sara Duterte," he said, adding that the youth vote must be earned through genuine engagement and dialogue.

He also highlighted the influence of millennials, whom he described as the backbone of the Duterte political coalition.

According to dela Fuente, millennials account for more than 23.1 million voters aged 29 to 44 and demonstrate the highest voter reliability among age groups.

"They remember what it felt like to see decisive leadership," he said, referring to the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Dela Fuente stressed that, combined, Generation Z and Millennials make up the majority of the Philippine electorate and will determine the direction of national politics in the coming years.