YFPMCV volunteers gather, elects new leaders to strengthen advocacy

MACO, CVP - A new administration of peace advocates has been formally set by the Youth for Peace Movement Compostela Valley (YFPMCV) through an election of new officers, during its 3rd Panagtapok ug Pakighimamat (PUP) cum Gawad Kalinaw 2017, held last December 2-3, 2017, at the 1001st Infantry Brigade in Maco.

The election was conducted to formally replace the organization's previous administration who has already completed their two-year term.

With at most 100 members from different municipal chapters who attended the event, seven were elected unanimously to executive positions of President, Vice-President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, and Sergeant at Arms.

Meanwhile, with the transition of new leadership, a new organizational structure and volunteer track were also introduced to the members during the 2-day event.

Added now to the new structure are the four committees on Youth Development, Community Development, Organizational Development, and Peace Communication, which are being led by a Coordinator.

The Coordinators have been selected by each committee's members who also underwent a Volunteer Tracking or selection of committees that they want to be part of, following the election of officers.

According to Alexis Micutuan, former President of YFPM Comval, the new intervention will allow the organization to sustain and manage its growing population of members, and provide spaces for them to hone their abilities in the track they selected.

"While being volunteers, it is also the organization's aim to provide them with enough opportunities to be empowered and developed for their future endeavors," he added.

He also said that the responsibility of each volunteer is to take care of their committees as each of it is a foundation of the organization.

"The Committee members, with their Coordinators, will lead the implementation and monitoring of the programs, projects, and activities of the organization that are aligned to their respective committees, while also taking care of the development of their members," Micutuan added.

On the other hand, Bren Cabatingan, the newly elected President of YFPM Comval, encouraged his members to be mindful of their role as volunteers.

"These thematic advocacies that we are now in, is only the trunk of the tree - our organization. The most important part of it all is the roots - us. So we have to keep in mind our responsibility as volunteers for peacebuilding, in order for our organization to grow and attain peace in our province," he further said.

Written by: Peace Communication Committee | YFPM Comval

Photos: Jess Elton Largado