Multi-sectors participate in the Regional Consultation on Phil Youth Dev’t Plan 2011-2016 in Butuan

BUTUAN CITY, July 21 (PIA) –- About 60 representatives from government line agencies, non-government organizations, Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP), business sector, academe, religious, youth-serving organizations and among other youth sectors of the region participated in the Regional Consultation on the Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP) 2011-2016 in Caraga spearheaded by the National Youth Commission (NYC), held Wednesday, July 20, 2011.

It can be recalled that the NYC has formally started the process of formulating the PYDP 2011-2016 as a companion document of the recently approved Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016.

The formulation of the PYDP shall apply an inclusive process and identify (a) key issues facing the youth, (b) opportunities, enabling conditions and proposed strategies and policies which government, other duty bearers and other stakeholders further create and provide, and (c) the appropriate role and activities which the youth should perform in the economy, society and local community and their families.

Mr. Rex F. Ybañez, Chief Executive Officer of the Caraga Youth Leaders’ Network Inc. said that Caraga is lucky to be part of the historic regional consultation hence the Caraganon youth leaders can explicitly and directly express their sentiments and youth program towards the Government.

“The National Youth Commission officials under the Office of the President of the Philippines will also hear the Caraganon youth sentiments straight from them,” said Ybañez.

Also, NYC ASec. Earl Saavedra, Commissioner representing Mindanao discussed youth issues and concerns related to education, employment, environment, health and well-being, and others based on the 2010 national youth assessment study by the NYC.

“Youths in different places face different issues and concerns which really need to be addressed,” Saavedra stressed.

Saavedra also bared that based on the 2010 national youth assessment study, among the general findings in the study revealed that 91% of the 23% of the age bracket 25-30 think they are unemployed because they lack work skills; 12-15% of all ages claim to have experienced being abused or exploited; 53-60% of all ages brackets would prefer to work abroad because of higher pay; and 7-8% of all ages dropped out of school after becoming drug dependent.

Meanwhile, all the participants grouped themselves by sector and undergone workshop to identify and specify its programs and services intended for the youth that will also be intensified from 2011-2016.

One of the issues raised from the youth leaders is that they really want to get involved with the government’s policy making and that their voices will be heard.

While the representatives from the government line agencies, non-government organizations, business sector and academe presented their programs and services for the youths, the youth leaders also actively participated by raising their issues and concerns and expressing their suggestions on how would these available programs and services from different sectors fit to their needs, and that would answer the youths’ existing problems.

With this, NYC assured the youth leaders in Caraga that all their suggestions/recommendations will be brought up to Office of the President and be properly addressed. (PIA-Caraga)