Event highlights importance of informed voting, scrutiny of platforms and candidates.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Seven candidates vying for key local positions in the upcoming May 12 mid-term elections took center stage at the first-ever Candidates’ Forum 2025, held Monday, April 7, at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) gymnasium in Baliwasan.
The landmark event, organized by WMSU and its University Student Council, aimed to provide voters—especially the youth—with a rare opportunity to directly hear from candidates about their platforms and positions on pressing issues affecting Zamboanga City.
Those who answered the call included Majority Leader and District II Congressman Mannix Dalipe, District I Congressman Khymer Adan Olaso, and retired Assistant City Schools Superintendent Pedro Melchor Natividad—all vying for the city’s top post.
Running for congressional seats were incumbent Mayor John Dalipe and Michelle Natividad (District II), as well as Vice Mayor Josephine Pareja and Kaiser Olaso (District I). Also present were partylist representatives Arch. Neil Dalena of Akbayan Partylist and Jade Jamolod of Malasakit and Bayanihan Partylist. Several city council aspirants likewise attended the forum.
The discussions covered a wide array of key issues, including governance, agriculture, traffic management, peace and order, environmental sustainability, public health, and economic development.
WMSU President Dr. Carla Ochotorena, who led the university officials and faculty in attendance, underscored the importance of the forum in fostering political awareness and civic engagement among the student body and the wider community.
“This is not just about hearing promises,” Dr. Ochotorena noted. “This is about examining each candidate’s vision, understanding their track record, and scrutinizing how they plan to address the real issues facing Zamboanga.”
The forum provided a neutral and academic platform for candidates to present their proposed solutions and answer tough questions—an essential step in ensuring voters make informed decisions at the polls.
The initiative also emphasized the crucial role that schools and youth institutions play in strengthening democracy by encouraging critical thinking, participatory governance, and accountability.
As the May elections draw near, events like this serve as vital venues not only for raising awareness but also for deepening public scrutiny of candidates and their platforms—an indispensable part of any healthy democratic process.
The 2025 Candidates’ Forum marked a milestone for WMSU and the city as it called attention to the growing demand for transparent, issue-based campaigns and the public’s increasing desire to vote based on concrete platforms rather than personalities.