FUTURE LEADERS. A total of 151 youth leaders from different barangays in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur participate in the 1st Carrascal Youth Leadership Summit 2019 held on October 11-13, 2019. The summit aims to hone the young leaders to become advocates of peace in their respective communities. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 36IB)
BUTUAN CITY -- A total of 151 youth leaders from various barangays in Carrascal town, Surigao del Sur province joined the recently-concluded 1st Carrascal Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) 2019.
The gathering, held at the Carrascal National High School from October 11 to 13, carried the theme “Kabataan: Mapagmahal sa Bayan, Pag-asa ng Kinabukasan”.
The 151 participants consisted mostly of out-of-school youths (OSYs) and students from barangays Pantukan, Panikian, Bacolod, Adlay, Babuyan, and Dahican in Carrascal, which are considered by the military as "conflict-affected areas" and "geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas."
In a statement to the media on Tuesday, the Civil-Military Operations Office of the Army's 36th Infantry Battalion (36IB) said the three-day event aims “to empower the youth to become part of community-building in their own community and inculcate positive values and attitudes to enhance their leadership potentials.”
The opening ceremony of the summit was graced by Lt. Col. Jezreel Diagmel, acting commanding officer of 36IB, together with Merill Espinodo, municipal local government operations officer of Carrascal; Azel Luga of the municipal social welfare and development office; Roberto A. Laurente Jr. of the Propelling our Inherited Nation Thru our Youth, Inc. (POINTY), as well as barangay officials, and government line agencies.
During the summit, the youth participants were updated by various line agencies on the government’s plans, programs, and projects.
Team-building activities that aim to showcase and develop potential leadership and abilities among the participants were also facilitated by POINTY, LGU Carrascal, and the 36IB.
In a separate statement, Lt. Col. Diagmel said the purpose of the YLS is to “empower the youth to become well-informed, productive, and responsible citizens of the community.”
The activity, Diagmel added, will help hone the young leaders of Carrascal town to become advocates of peace in their respective communities.
“The YLS seeks to transform the youth into peace-builders and catalyst for development,” he said.
He noted that the youths in "conflict-affected areas" and "geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas," are susceptible to the recruitment of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
