Youth leaders present post-COVID policy recommendations

Over 400 youth leaders have given the government 10 policy recommendations to help the Philippines recover from the ill effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Finance (DOF) said yesterday.

In a statement, the DOF said youth representatives from more than 100 schools and 35 organizations convened during the first online Sulong Pilipinas Forum, which was held via Zoom and streamed live on Facebook last Thursday.

By the end of the forum, the participants came up with their top 10 actionable proposals, which seek to help the government in responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

According to the youth leaders, the government should first ensure food security in the country by promoting cooperation between the Department of Agriculture and local governments in providing proper training and technology to farmers.

The youth sector also called for the Department of Education and Department of Information and Technology to improve internet infrastructure and explore other telecommunication channels for students, parents and teachers by August 2020 to ensure continuity of education.

They also called for the government to harness the national ID system to expedite the delivery of cash aids and other social protection programs to poor Filipinos.

To ensure that the Philippines is prepared for the “new normal,” the youth leaders said the Department of Health should increase its testing capacity by establishing more testing centers and procuring more testing kits.

The participants also proposed for the government to provide Filipino workers with safe and efficient means of transportation; create employment for displaced workers by developing industries, establishing industries and attracting investments; ensure consistent and coordinated enforcement of quarantine guidelines; provide assistance to the tourism sector; provide ample emergency relief to vulnerable sectors; and support micro, small and medium enterprises.

“We believe these are the most important measures that the government should take to ensure that the Philippines recovers from COVID-19 as quickly and efficiently as possible while helping our countrymen who are most affected by the pandemic,” the youth representatives said.

Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Lambino, who received the recommendations on behalf of the Duterte administration’s economic team, underscored the importance of public engagement in governance.

“We take your recommendations seriously. After all, it is your generation that will benefit in the long-term should we succeed in our current efforts. It is your generation that will learn from the mistakes and the good practices of government and the private sector in handling this unprecedented health emergency,” Lambino said.