YOUTH PEACE CAMP: Back on Track in New Bataan

NEW BATAAN, CVP - With the aim of empowering the Comval youth with the spirit of a genuine peacebuilder, a Youth Peace Camp was held last June 28-30, 2019, at the Municipal Gymnasium here.

The event that was halted for almost half a decade is now back on track with a theme, “MALINAWONG DAVAO DE ORO: Ascending to Genuine Peace-Building for a Higher Ground of Youth Empowerment.”

Through the collaboration of the Youth for Peace Movement (YFPM) Compostela Valley and New Bataan, 66th Infantry Battalion (IB), Sangguniang Kabataan Municipal Federation, Municipal Youth Development Office, and Local Government Unit (LGU) of New Bataan, the said camp was participated by 76 youth leaders coming from the 16 barangays of the Municipality of New Bataan (Andap, Cabinuangan, Bantacan, Batinao, Camanlangan, Cogonon, Fatima, Tandawan, Panag, Magangit, Pagsabangan, Kahayag, San Roque, Manurigao, Magsaysay and Katipunan), and are now part of the said youth movement.

"2014 was the last year that New Bataan conducted a Youth Leadership Summit or Youth Peace Camp, and now, we are back with a blast," said Hon. John Clyde O. Manabit, SKMF President of New Bataan.

"It is indeed true that with coordination and a leader who has the political will, we can really move mountains - mountains that once eclipsed the glaring face of our youth," he added.

The 3-day camp was filled with lectures and workshops to encourage the participants to take part in addressing social issues affecting the youth and prepare them in understanding the true essence of peace and volunteerism, which are needed as they promote peace in their respective barangays.

Some of these lectures are the Youth in Volunteerism, Role of the Youth in Peacebuilding, Role of the Youth in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, Advocating Cultural Identity, and Preventing Drug Proliferation among the Youth.

Various challenges and teambuilding activities were also participated by the youth in the camp, which aims to test their leadership, good citizenship, and patriotism.

"Ipadayon nato ni," said the Municipal Mayor of New Bataan, Hon. Geraldford N. Balbin, as he assured the youth of the government's support to show that peacebuilding is unstoppable in New Bataan.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ronnie Rinos, Acting President of YFPM New Bataan expressed that despite being a mountainous place and many of New Bataan's barangays were located remotely, nothing hindered them to uphold the advocacy of their movement and inculcate among the youth the true essence of having peace in their communities.

New Baatan has been known as one of the bastions of New People's Army in the Province of Compostela Valley which has caused conflict for many years in its communities and has affected the lives of the people, especially the youth.

Written by: Bernadette Festin | Correspondent | YFPM New Bataan
Photos by: Marianne Pril Sabuero | Peace Communication Committee | YFPM Maragusan