DavNor anniv focuses on youth welfare
DAVAO DEL NORTE – Youth welfare and empowerment claimed the spotlight in the grand celebration of the 47th founding anniversary of the Province of Davao del Norte on Tuesday.
Apart from feting bountiful harvest, the annual thanksgiving also showcased the provincial government’s policy on valuing the creativity and positive energy of the youth, with the launch of the AbotAlam Program.
Assistant Secretary Jose Sixto “Dingdong” Dantes III, Commissioner-at-Large of the National Youth Commission (NYC), launched the Abot-Alam Program, which aims to effectively address the needs of the fast-growing number of Filipino outof-school youths (OSY).
Dantes, who is one of the most versatile and consummate actors in the country, graced the anniversary celebration. In his message, he urged the Dabaonon people to become living heroes who pave the way for change.
“Ang kadakilaan ay hindi lamang kailangang mag-alay ng buhay para sa bayan. Ang tunay na kabayanihan... ay mas handang mabuhay para sa kanya (Heroism no longer calls for us to give our life for our country but instead to live for it),” he said, be- fore taking a selfie on stage at the end of his speech.
Abot-Alam was launched under the government’s goal of Education for All, as a national strategy to organize efforts in integrating programs for youth ages 15 to 30 years old, who dropped out of school, never finished school, or finished only elementary or high school.
Dantes revealed some 2,438 OSYs in Davao del Norte were initially listed in the database of the AbotAlam program, towards achieving zero percent OSY by 2016.
He added that for this year, the program intends to provide education and livelihood skills to one million OSYs nationwide.
The Provincial Capitol, under the baton of Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, took a greater role in the program, which is being implemented through the leadership of the Department of Education, with the help of the NYC, Tesda and other government and private agencies.
Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Atty. Francis Tolentino, who graced the anniversary event, as well, promised to help the province improve its capability in terms of disaster risk reduction and management. NOEL BAGUIO