Cebu Province holds first youth summit
Youth leaders from all over Cebu province aired out their concerns during the first youth summit hosted by the Cebu Provincial government in partnership with five agencies held yesterday at the Montebello Villa Hotel in Barangay Apas, Cebu City yesterday.
Heads and representatives from the Provincial Youth Commission, Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office, Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development office were present for a dialogue between some 150 youth leaders who attended yesterday's summit.
Issues taken up by the youth leaders from various municipalities include proper representation of the youth in local governance, promotion of adolescent reproductive health, linkage of the youth to job opportunities and the strengthening of youth organizations through capacity-building.
Other concerns taken up were the promotion of infrastructures for Persons With Disability (PWDs), access to basic quality education, implementation of a comprehensive waste management program, active participation of the youth in community-based rehabilitation programs, improvement of services geared towards the youth with special abilities and educating the youth on the necessary skills for reducing risk.
“First is on the war on drugs tingali and the services that we lack so the youth will have a very important role there kay sila'y paspas maka-mobilize,” Governor Hilario Davide III said when asked what among the proposed plans should be prioritized in terms of implementation.
Other issues like teenage pregnancy, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and irresponsible fatherhood were also discussed with plans for solutions from the Population Commission (POPCOM) and the Department of Social Welfare Development.
“It is behavior, not gender,” Carl Dave Ang of POPCOM - Cebu and Bohol cites as one of the causes of HIV as well as being the means on how the stigma against the disease can be lessened.
POPCOM is conducting trainings geared towards educating the youth on how to identify and say no to sexual advances and give a deeper understanding of HIV as a disease.
Social Welfare Officer III Daisy Lor said that the media's portrayal of women as sex objects and false advertising may also be among the reasons why there is gender bias in the society, as it gives a false perspective on what an individual should be.
“Ang abuse sa kababayen-an, usa ra ang hinungdan ana – ipakita sa lalaki nga siya ang mas powerful ug makontrol niya ang babae so here comes our advocate nga mu-speak up sila,” she said as she shares the agency's advocacy and encourages the academe to provide an avenue where students can share the abuse they experience at home.
The need to exert more effort in the conservation of our natural resources and in sustainable development was also emphasized to the youth leaders present.
Paulo Aquino, a PWD youth leader from Consolacion, thinks development is slow in the aspect of integrating programs for PWDs.
“Gradual because kanang naa pa gyu'y kuwang sa tinuod lang… for me as a PWD, hinay kaayo kung muadto ko'g mga mall.. ramp kay wala … unya kung musakay ka'g taxi kay muingon sila'g lisod and it's very hard for us because our physical is weak so we can't handle the situations… Ang better solution ana kay tagaa'g attention sa gobyerno. And sa assistance. Kay kung magkasakit mi unya wala mi'y kakayahan muskwela, although naa mi'y willingness and determination to go to school pero we're not healthy. Unya, nanginahanglan pud mi'g wheelchair ug walker to assist, then sa facility nga i-prioritize para sa PWD nga part,” he said as he shares his sorrow on being unable to attend college.
Provincial Board Members Yolanda L. Daan and Glenn O. Bercede also showed their support for the youth summit by sending messages of empowerment.
CHILD-FRIENDLY CITY
Meanwhile, Talisay City has been granted the distinction of ChildFriendly City out of all component cities of Cebu Province.
The city government received P100,000 cash reward along with a certificate of recognition at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Talisay City Social Welfare and Development head Felipa Solana said that they were glad that their efforts paid off.
She said that each constituent of Talisay is aware of children's rights and have been reporting cases of child abuse to the authorities, leading to a decrease in human trafficking and sexual abuse cases in the city.
From last year's 16 cases of child abuse recorded, the number has gone down to 10 cases reported for this year.
Solana added that they organized a watch group in each of the barangay two years ago and that they also conducted trainings and seminars to each barangay's focal person for child protection policies.
"Duna gyu'y pagubus kay naa naman ta'y watch group sa barangays ug tungod sad sa atong kampanya, naa ta'y lecture sa mga parents about human trafficking ug unsa'y provision ani sa balaod para ma-aware sila, " she said.