With nearly 30 percent of midterm voters aged 18 to 29, a poll watchdog is calling on the youth to step up and make their voices heard in the upcoming elections.

Speaking at a Girl Scouts of the Philippines event, Ana Singson, National Head of Voter’s Education for the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, encouraged young Filipinos to vote wisely and choose candidates who reflect their values.

“Don’t think of yourselves as just the future — we need your hope, your passion, and your ideals now,” Singson said. “Sadly, many of us lose those ideals as we grow older. But the youth still carry them.”

Singson told the scouts that by choosing the right leaders, they could help solve long-standing issues like traffic and flooding — and even become heroes in their own right.

Comelec chairman George Garcia, also present at the event, reminded attendees to scrutinize candidates’ qualifications. “Don’t vote for someone just because they’re famous or funny — especially if their jokes are discriminatory,” he said.

Garcia revealed that the poll body has issued several show-cause orders to local candidates for making offensive remarks on the campaign trail. With elections less than 20 days away, he assured the public that Comelec is 95 percent ready.