Bontoc, Mountain Province – Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials in this capital town underwent a two-day training entitled, “Capability Building on Gender-Based Organizational Development and Management” on May 27-28, 2021 at the Mayor’s Conference Hall of the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey said that he immediately approved the activity believing that continual training for the SK officials is necessary to equip them with the right skills and knowledge to produce programs that would cater to the needs of the youth in their respective communities.
“You represent the young- you represent those who are under 30 years of age and you make up more than half of the population. Thus, it is you who know what programs and interventions the government should provide to them,” the mayor added.
Likewise, Odsey commended the SK officials and members for all their assistance and initiatives for more than one year of the pandemic.
He mentioned that aside from being a partner of the government in the implementation of community quarantine and health protocols, the SK has initiated activities to ensure the active participation of the youth.
“You have recognized the mental health needs of the youth especially of adjustment everyone has to make while we are under any forms of community quarantine. You have initiated activities that respond to the needs of your fellow youths and rightly appropriated your SK funds such as the Tiktok and Singing Competition, Miniature Garden Competition, and clean-up drive,” the mayor remarked.
With the two-day training, Odsey urged the participants to share what they learn with their fellow youth and involve them in their programs and advocacies in their respective barangays.
Local Youth Development Officer – Designate Ross Kiat-ong said that the training aims to strengthen and capacitate the youth on leadership and management skills.
The topics included Concepts of Leadership with Leadership in the Organization, Organizational Development, The Youth and Good Governance, Accounting Rules and Procedures, Journalism and Photo Documentation, and Gender Sensitivity Mainstreaming.
The resource speakers were Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Lourdes Claire Peel of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), LYD Officer- Designate Ross Kiat-ong, Fiscal Examiner Rosita Loy-od of the Office of the Municipal Accountant, Information Officer Alpine Killa, and Tourism Operations Officer Tyrone Glenn Lawey of the Provincial Tourism Office.
The two-day training was funded under the Local Youth Development Fund of the Office of the Municipal Mayor.
By Alpine L. Killa