BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance creating the City Youth Development Office and the City Youth Development Council, for other purposes and providing funds for the said bodies.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales stated that it is a declared policy of the local government to promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being of Filipino youth, inculcating in them patriotism and nationalism and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.
The ordinance added that there shall be a Local Youth Development Office which shall be headed by a Youth Development officer with the rank of at least division chief and the same may be placed under the office of the City Mayor or any other offices deemed appropriate for the purpose.
Under the proposed ordinance, in addition to the requirements prescribed by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Youth Development Officer shall be preferably not more than 30 years old at the time of his or her appointment; of good moral character; must have acquired experience in youth development affairs or involvement in youth or youth serving organizations for at least 3 years and he or she shall be appointed by the local chief executive, but In no case is he or she be within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity of the appointing authority.
Upon the recommendation of the Youth Development Officer, the ordinance stipulated that the local government may provide additional staffing requirements in the said office and shall be appointed by the local chief executive in whatever status deemed appropriate pursuant to CSC rules and regulations.
The ordinance explained that the City Youth Development Office shall register and verify youth had youth-serving organizations; provide technical assistance to the city Youth Development Council (YDC) in the formulation of the Youth Development Plan; facilitate the election of the YDC representatives; serve as Secretariat to the YDC and as such, shall provide the necessary administrative, operational, staff and technical staff to the YDC; conduct the mandatory and continuing training of SK officials and YDC members, pursuant to the programs jointly designed and implemented by the National youth Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government; provide technical, logistical and other support in the conduct of the mandatory and continuing training programs, and to such other programs of the NYC and DILG; coordinate with the NYC with regard to the youth programs within their jurisdiction and perform other functions as may be prescribed by law, ordinance or as the local chief executive may require.
The ordinance proposed that a fund with an initial amount of P1.5 million will be established and appropriated from any available source to be managed by the Youth Development office and thereafter, such amount needed for the purpose shall be included in the annual budget of the local government.
The ordinance also mandated the creation of a Youth Development Council which will be headed by the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president and composed of representatives of youth and youth-serving organizations in the city By Dexter A. See
