Abstract Recent literature indicates that youth political participation often takes low-intensity, digitally mediated forms aligning with patterns of standby citizenship. Anchored in Amnå and Ekman’s theory of standby citizens and political efficacy framework, this study explores the link between political efficacy and social media political participation among Filipino student voters in Isabela. Employing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, survey data were analyzed using descriptive and correlational techniques and subsequently enriched through focus group discussions. Findings show high internal and information efficacy, with moderate external efficacy across gender, age, and college affiliation. Social media political participation is most prominent in latent engagement. Correlation analysis reveals significant moderate relationships between internal and information efficacy and latent engagement, while relationships with expressive participation are weak or non-significant. Findings suggest presence of politically attentive yet selectively expressive students, reflecting standby citizenship within this specific context.
Abstract This paper examines local disaster risk reduction ( DRR ) governance in the Philippines by analyzing how fiscal incentives and participatory institutions affect the utilization of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund ( LDRRMF ). Drawing on second-generation fiscal federalism and participatory governance perspectives, it uses municipal-level panel data to assess the political and institutional determinants of DRR implementation. The findings show that greater dependence on intergovernmental transfers is associated with lower LDRRMF utilization, indicating weakened incentives for local capacity-building and execution. In contrast, civil society organization representation in local DRR councils is positively associated with fund utilization, highlighting the role of participation in strengthening accountability.
Abstract This article critically evaluates the Rural Farm School ( RFS ) Law (Republic Act 10618) in Western Visayas, Philippines as a strategy for sustainable rural development. Focusing on the 2022 to 2023 period, the research assesses the program’s effectiveness in (1) improving agricultural educational outcomes for rural youth and (2) strengthening community engagement as pathways to inclusive rural development. Guided by Wellbrock et al.’s (2012) Integrated Perspective on Rural Regional Learning, the study adopts a mixed-methods approach that combines document analysis, policy reviews, surveys, interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were drawn from 35 RFS administrators complemented by qualitative insights from field participants. The findings show that RFS have made measurable advances in enhancing access to agriculturally relevant education, integrating practical farming skills with academic instruction, and fostering greater community participation in school-led agricultural initiatives. At the same time, persistent governance and institutional challenges were identified: insufficient and uneven resource allocation, infrastructural disparities, limited teacher specialization, and weak inter-sectoral coordination between education and agriculture agencies. The article concludes that while the law exhibits considerable potential for empowering rural youth and strengthening rural livelihoods, its full effectiveness depends on strengthening institutional capacities, aligning policy frameworks across sectors, and ensuring equitable implementation. These findings contribute to debates on educational policy, rural governance and inclusive development in the Philippines.
