SURIGAO SK LAUNCHES INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AMID PANDEMIC

SURIGAO SK LAUNCHES INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AMID PANDEMIC By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales Various initiatives have heightened community online. Winners were been launched by the quarantine protocol, the given prizes such as Sangguniang Kabataan SK allotted Php200,000 grocery items, face (SK) of Barangay to help with the financial shield, and Php 50 worth Washington in Surigao assistance provided of load. City in support of the by the Sangguniang The youth officials government’s programs Barangay, which aided also took part in the amid the coronavirus 746 families. They also implementation of disease 2019 (COVID-19) assisted in the production blended learning in pandemic. and distribution of relief the village elementary During his guesting goods provided in part school, providing reams at the ‘Bisaya Gyud’ by the city government of bond papers to be program on November and the Department used in producing printed 28, the barangay SK of Social Welfare and learning modules. chairperson Junrey Sarco Development (DSWD) SK Chair Sarco also discussed with Presidential Caraga. The SK also elaborated on the cleanCommunications provided hygiene kits up drive launched in Operations Office and washable face September in partnership (PCOO) Secretary masks to frontline workers with the Philippine Martin Andanar the to provide additional National Police (PNP) activities that the youth assistance in their and the Armed Forces of group launched, from personal protective the Philippines (AFP). initiatives concerning the equipment (PPE). “The project is in pandemic to advocating Youth engagement support of the Community for citizen’s rights. was also tackled amid Support Program (CSP). To provide the pandemic through We intend to impart to assistance to the village the various contests and the public that caring residents during the activities they launched for our environment and | December 12-18, 2020 Caraga INFOCUS

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/SangguniangKabataan-Surigao-DelNorte-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)

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