Interim youth commission formed for Cebu province

More than 100 youth leaders from all over Cebu met yesterday for the  first convention of  members of the Provincial Youth Commission (PYC).

Almost a year after the ordinance creating the PWC was passed,  members gathered from  Santander town in the far south to Daanbantayan in the north, and the Camotes group of islands.

“PYC is the official youth arm of the province of Cebu,” said Provincial  Board (PB) Member Miguel Antonio Magpale, principal author of the ordinance.

He said he hopes the commission fills the gap left by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

The ordinance creating the PYC was passed on July 14, 2014.

PYC serves as the highest policy-making and coordinating body in all efforts of youth development in the province.

The youth representatives came from religious groups, student bodies, and former SK members  from all six congressional district of Cebu.

Interim commissioners were elected for each district. They will serve until Gov. Hilario Davide III appoints permanent members.

In the ordinance, the commission will include the president of the provincial SK federation, president of the provincial federation of student organizations, community-based youth groups, working youth organizations, out of school youth, and youth with special needs, among others.

A P2.5 million budget was  set aside by the governor for  its operations for 2015. Magpale said their activities will focus on youth empowerment, not just sports.

“We will have seminars on leadership, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), health, and education, among others,” he said.

Summer activities are being lined up by  PB  Member Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba through the  PB committee on youth and sports.

Guest  speaker Louie Villanueva gave an overview of the profile of Filipino youths, aged 15 to 25 years old.

Based on statistics, at least  19 percent are smokers, 43 percent drink alcohol, and 6 percent are drug users./ WITH  CEBU NORMAL UNIVERSITY INTERN JHUN ARDY ROLLO INTERN