Surigao SK launches initiatives, programs for youth empowerment amid pandemic
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN
CITY, Dec. 14 (PIA) -- Various initiatives have been launched by the
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Barangay Washington in Surigao City in support of
the government’s programs amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
To
provide assistance to the village residents during the heightened community
quarantine protocol, the SK allotted Php200,000 to help with the financial
assistance provided by the Sangguniang Barangay, which aided 746 families. They
also assisted in the production and distribution of relief goods provided in
part by the city government and the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) Caraga. The SK also provided hygiene kits and washable face
masks to frontline workers to provide additional assistance in their personal
protective equipment (PPE).
Youth
engagement was also tackled amid the pandemic through the various contests and
activities they launched online. Winners were given prizes such as grocery
items, face shield, and Php 50 worth of load.
The
youth officials also took part in the implementation of blended learning in the
village elementary school, providing reams of bond papers to be used in
producing printed learning modules.
SK
Chair Sarco also elaborated on the clean-up drive launched in September in
partnership with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP).
“The
project is in support of the Community Support Program (CSP). We intend to
impart to the public that caring for our environment and maintaining its
cleanliness are still important despite the health crisis,” he said. He added
that the program was a great way to promote camaraderie among the people.
Apart
from these programs, the youth council pursued political campaigns involving
the youth. They continued to implement their advocacy campaign “Citizen’s
Rights,” which aims to educate the general public, particularly the youth, on
their basic rights, particularly the rights they hold as citizens of this
country. The initiative is a brainchild of the SK chairperson himself, who is a
Political Science graduate.
“Advocating
for the rights of our people has always been a passion of mine. Educating them
of these rights and their rights as citizens of this country is the first step
in upholding such rights and help them avoid abuse especially during the
pandemic,” said Sarco.
In line
with cultivating a pro-government youth, the youth council and the village
youth took part in the declaration of Persona Non-Grata to the communist
terrorist groups (CTGs) in the country. According to the youth leader, the
youth remains susceptible to the negative influence of these leftist groups,
which have spurred nothing but countless unspeakable atrocities and complete
violation of the people's right to live in a peaceful and secure environment.
“The
youth denouncing these groups is an act of them standing up for themselves by
refusing to be abused by these radical leftist entities,” said Sarco.
As the
segment ended, the SK chairperson imparted a brief message to his fellow youth,
stating that they remain responsible in their own households. He also urged
them to speak up and raise their concerns by contacting them through Surigao
City’s official Facebook page,
https://www.facebook.com/Sangguniang-Kabataan-Surigao-Del-Norte-107483667498569/.
‘Bisaya
Gyud’ is a weekly public service and entertainment program hosted by the
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar
aired every Saturday on select radio stations across the country and streamed
live on its official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/bisayagyudph.
The
program was initially launched to provide assistance to underprivileged Bisaya
and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). At the height of the pandemic, the
program also devoted its episodes to addressing various issues of the Bisayas
concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Its
'Operation Tabang' is launched to extend medical and food assistance to Bisaya
all over the country, especially those who suffered greatly due to the health
crisis. The program also launched its Bond Paper Gift project, which aims to
assist schools in rural areas in effectively implementing distance learning by
providing reams of bond papers to be used for the production of learning
materials.
The program also explores Bisaya music and artists and features Bisaya success stories. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
