Youth Leadership Summit held for Peace and Development

Youth Leadership Summit held for Peace and Development

By Jun Enriquez

Video file: Lt. Col. Anthon G. Abrina, Battalion Commander, 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, delivered a message before the youth participants during the opening ceremony of the Youth Leadership Summit 2015, at Suarez National High School, Iligan City.

Iligan City (May 11, 2015) – Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) 2015 was held organized and spearheaded by the 4^th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, based in Camp Pintoy Suarez, Iligan City, in cooperation with the local government unit (LGU) of Iligan Cityand the six municipalities of Lanao del Norte, namely, Tagoloan, Balo-i, Matongao, Pantar, Linamon, Pantao Ragat. It is a five-day event started on May 11, 2015 and ended on May 15, 2015. This day was the opening ceremony started with a motorcade at 8:00 O’clock in the morning from Iligan City public plaza going to Camp Pintoy, with the youth participants together with the members of the Barangay councils from the 44 Barangays of Iligan City and the military personnel also joined the event. The opening ceremony was held at Suarez National High School covered court at 2:00 O’clock in the afternoon. This year’s youth leadership summit is bringing with a theme: “Youth Advocates for Peaceful and Progressive Nation.”

In his welcome message, Lt. Col. Anthon G. Abrina, Battalion Commander of the 4^th Mechanized Infantry Battalion Philippine Army, said that the purpose of the Youth leadership summit (YLS) is to provide information on youth sector on what was happening in the environment because they are susceptible on exploitation such as the cases on illegal drugs and human trafficking. He said the spirit of cooperation under the Internal Peace and Security Program (IPSP) “Bayanihan” is very important to succeed. The youth summit is participated by 6 municipalities of Lanao del Norte and Iligan City, within the area of responsibility of the 4^th Mechanized Infantry Battalion Philippine Army. Participants are coming from multi-cultural communities of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte comprised the Muslims, Christians and the Lumads.

Lt. Col. Anthon G. Abrina

Abrina said that active support for the event are coming from the LGU of Iligan city, Linamon, Matongao, Pantao Ragat, Balo-i, Pantar and Tagoloan, the House of representative from the lone district of Iligan City, Congressman Vicente “Varf” Belmonte, Jr. and private sectors. The 41^st Mechanized Infantry company have invited 116 participants from Iligan City, the 42^nd Mechanized Infantry company have invited 25 participants from municipality of Balo-I, Pantar and Tagoloan and another participants from 41^st Mechanized Infantry company have invited 25 participants from Linamon, Matongao and Pantao Ragat. Therefore, a total of 166 participants attended the five-day summit.

Acting Mayor Ruderic C. Marzo

Iligan City Acting Mayor Ruderic C. Marzo, was the invited Guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremony. He acknowledged the presence of the Barangay officials during the event by sending youth participants for the summit. Marzo said that the objective of the summit is to make the youth of Iligan city and Lanao del Norte aware of what was going on in the surroundings. He said that the summit is very important considering that there are so many things happening around in every second, minute, hour of the day. He said the youth are the future leaders and must be trained to handle different responsibilities that they will have in the future, when they grown up, become professionals, responsible parents, and responsible leaders of our society and government.

Youth participants

Marzo also mentioned about the rampant illegal drugs and the youth are the targets. He also mentioned about the education of the youth that cutting classes is now very normal in most of the students. Education today is very liberal compared to the days of the education in the past was very rigid and strict connotes discipline. He said that it is now become the assumed responsibility of the different stakeholders of education for the development of the youth. Marzo said that he is hoping and looking forward that during this summit all the participants will be participating in every topic discussions and share their ideas excellently, and everyone will learn something. Marzo said there is no reason that the youth today will become the leaders of tomorrow, and become good citizens in this country, a challenge to all the participants.

At left, Col. Gilbert I. Gapay

In a declaration of the opening ceremony, Col, Gilbert I. Gapay, Brigade Commander of the 2^nd Mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade, said It’s a major activities under the Internal Peace and Security Program (IPSP) “Bayanihan,” by giving attention and showing that “we care for you”. He said the youth is considered as the most important sector in the society, the saying goes, “Ang kabataan ay pag-asa at kinabukasan ng bayan,” meaning, the youth is the future of our country. Gapay said that the youth are also the most vulnerable sector of the society because they are the targets on criminalities reiterating the menace on illegal drugs and human trafficking. He said they will make them aware on their rights and responsibilities as an active member of the society. Gapay said that the outcome of this activity is to organize them into a youth organization, so that later on in any activity they will have a voice and share their thoughts organically.

Youth participants

Gapay said that there are plenty of sponsors interested on youth development including livelihood trainings because the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is also present on this event. Gapay added that the summit is attended by the in school and out of school youth participants, a multi-cultural in nature and its goal is unity among the youth despite cultural diversity for peace and development. With reports and photos by Malyne Gungob.