City youths gather to strengthen roles

By Gerald O. Enguero

NAGA CITY — Youth leaders, aged 15-30 years from several youth organizations in the city’s 27 barangays gathered April 27 for the Youth Leadership Convention at the Naga City Youth Center here.

The participating groups were composed of incumbent city youth officials, SK Federation, school organizations, out-of-school youths, and Person’s With Disability (PWD) youth sector.

They came to reconvene the Naga City Council for Youth Affairs (NCCYA) since it was established in 2002 through City Ordinance 2002-080 which created the youth organization, defining its composition, duties, functions and responsibilities.”

Moving on theme, “Madya Tingog Kang Kahobenan Hinanyuga,” the convention tackled several issues that affect the youth.

Ronnel Joseph T. Competente, NCCYA acting president, discussed the youth situation in Naga where he disclosed that of the city’s youth; two out of three are in formal education. He added that out of 20 youths in college, eight go to public school while 12 to private schools.

In the national scene, he said that 1/3 of the total population in the Philippines are composed of the youth. Twenty-one percent are in school, four percent are working students, 22 percent work as farm-workers, 21 percent contractual workers, and 36 percent are out-of-school youths.

Competente said 1/3 of the population is already big enough to influence and make a big difference in the community and therefore the youth have a big responsibility in nation building.

Competente said his facts are based on Report on Youth Development in Naga City, a joint project of the city government and the University of British Columbia.

Other speakers on various concerns were Raphael Martin R. Magno, founder of Gira Youth Organization; Glenda V. Dasco, president of Young Liberals of the Philippines, Region V;

Allen Reondanga, Naga City Information Officer, defines NCCYA as a collection of youth organization in the city that articulates the different concerns, ideas, opinions, sentiments and aspirations of the youth generation in Naga.

Reondanga clarifies that NCCYA is non-partisan council and will not allow itself or its member to be used for the purposes of partisan politics. He said the youth council itself will adopt measures to ensure that it is adequately shielded from any political partnership or influence under Sec. 9, Ordinance No. 2002-080).

Danice Bermas, representative of Ateneo Debate Society (Remontados) one of the facilitators, said that they learn how to develop leadership skills, team building and networking through various exercises and group activities within the council.

Mark Aborde representative of Naga City Visually Impaired Association said he joined the conventon to learn more about leadership and how his group can actively participate in various youth activities.

“Any kind of disability is not a hindrance to show your capabilities and what you want to do such as participating in a worth doing activity,” Aborde said.

City Youth Mayor Her Lynn F. Balares said the youth convention aims to unite all youth organization into NCCYA and give them the right direction and partner with the city government in addressing issues and activities that concern the youth.

“If there is a large number of an alliance within the youth organization, there will also be massive participation in the programs to be implemented,” Balares explained.