BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance providing for the youth to participate in nation building by acting as officials for day in the month of August every year.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales stated that pursuant to the State policy of recognizing the vital role of the youth in nation building by promoting their physical, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being, inculcates in them patriotism, nationalism and other desirable values and encourages their involvement in public and civic affairs, there is a need for the local government to institutionalize the observance of the Youth Week in August.
The ordinance stipulated that the first Monday of the first week of the month of August of every year shall be known as the Youth Officials for A Day in the city and that the local government, through the Sangguniag Kabataan Federation, in coordination with the existing members of the SKF, shall conduct annual activities relative to the said event which shall include their first act of service the appointment or designation, through the recommendation and selection by the SKF of the Acting City Mayor, together with the counterparts of their organizations or federations; provided that the same shall cover all elective and appointive officials from chiefs of offices and department heads for the whole day.
The ordinance added the youth leaders shall hold office as officials for a day and shall perform duties and conduct activities relative to the said activity or that which may be designed by concerned city offices provided that the services rendered by their counterparts shall be without compensation.
Republic Act (RA0 No. 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 is intended to strongly build a responsible leadership of the youth as future caretakers of the city, role models, and efficient individuals.
The ordinance noted that local government units, particularly Baguio City, are mandated to establish adequate, effective and responsive and enabling mechanisms and support systems that shall empower the youth and ensure their meaningful participation in local governance and in nation building.
The ordinance claimed that providing the city’s youth an opportunity to experience running the affairs of the local government in their capacity as counterparts of all elective and appointive officials would give them the privilege to lead and to actively participate in the city’s development and governance even for a day.
Moreover, in relation to the celebration of the Linggo ng Kabataan that will fall on the week of August 12 of every year, the youth aged 15 to 17 years old will be provided the opportunity to experience running the affairs of the local government occupying various sensitive positions at least for a single day.
Earlier, the local government was able to institutionalize the annual conduct of the Scout Officials for A Day and the Senior Citizens Officials for A Day which are done every October to give a chance to the girl and boy scouts and senior citizens to experience administering the affairs of the city.
By Dexter A. See
