Views of the High-Income and Low-Income Youth of Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City on Unethical Campaign Practices

Abstract

The study sought to establish how the low-income youth of Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City view the unethical practices of candidates during electoral campaigns in contrast with the views of the high-income youth. The method employed in gathering data was through multistage sampling. The sample was chosen and narrowed down from the city level to the barangay level and finally, to the community level Mandaluyong City was chosen as the area of study owing to the fact that it is one of the most progressive urban centers in Metro Manila and therefore has a more or less politicized population and Barangay Highway Hills was chosen randomly through the Fishbowl method. The respondents were obtained from the communities of Highway Hills mainly the people from Sinag, Calbayog and Samat. Purposive sampling was also employed in gathering data. The study gathered 100 youth respondents, aged 18-25. They were further stratified into the low-income (having an annual family income of P150,000-below) and high-income group (having an annual family income of P300,000- above). The community leaders and influential residents were informed beforehand in order to ensure that the respondents would come from the low-income and high-income sectors of their community. Fifty respondents representing the low-income group came from the informal settlers residing in Lower Sinag (Isla) and Calbayog squatters area. The fifty high-income group respondents came from the Upper Sinag, Samat and Upper Calbayog areas. Data was obtained through the use of a survey questionnaire. Primary information was also gathered through the use of key informant interviews with the aid of an interview guide. The interviews conducted were with the Barangay Chairman of Barangay Highway Hills in order to get their perspective on the responses of their constituents and with people with extensive background in campaigns. The primary finding in the study was that the youth, regardless of financial status, do not favor unethical campaign practices. However, the results also yielded that the low-income youth are more likely to tolerate such unethical practices compared to their high-income counterparts who are less likely to tolerate unethical campaign practices. Political participation and political awareness were used as variables in the study in order to determine how these two variables affect the youths’ views on unethical campaign practices. Another variable, particularly values, was found to affect their views on such unethical practices as well. The implication or significance of determining how the youth view unethical campaign practices is that their views also affect their conduct as citizens. Their views may serve to contribute to their being vigilant and/or myopic citizens. The study was also able to provide several significant recommendations such as additional education for young voters, encouraging the youths’ participation at all levels, and the voters doing their part in curbing these practices by not supporting erring candidates and the leaders setting good examples to future generations.