Comval guv to youth: "attaining peace is within you"

MARAGUSAN, CVP - “Thank you for committing to genuine peace-building. You know how much we value it. As early as now, the advocacy of attaining peace is within you."

This was the message of Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy as he graced the conclusion of the 4th Provincial Youth Peace Camp (PYPC) in Compostela Valley, held at the Maragusan National High School from October 25 to 27, 2019.

At least 176 youth leaders from 11 Municipalities and different sectoral youth organizations in Comval have attended the event.

With this year’s theme “Malinawong Davao de Oro: Ascending to Genuine Peace Building for a Higher Ground of the Youth Empowerment,” the 2nd level leadership camp aims to increase the level of awareness and proactiveness of the Youth for Peace Movement (YFPM) volunteers and other youth leaders on the government's campaign towards a peaceful province through sectoral involvement.

It also focused on supporting the Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) or Comval's localized version called "Oplan Pagbabago," by incorporating YFPM Comval's Four Thematic Advocacies (FTAs).

"Our youth have to understand their relevance in Peace-building, which our local government has already recognized now. We need to start this by awakening, empowering, and nurturing them through this camp on how they could contribute to peace," said Bren Cabatingan, President of YFPM Comval.

He also added that the organization has been strengthened since its efforts were recognized by the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Comval, thus it must support its campaigns.

It can be recalled that the organization was recently recognized as a CSO member of Comval's Peace and Order Council on July 17, 2019, and the local TF-ELCAC's Strategic Communication Cluster.

Meanwhile, lectures aligned with FTAs were catered to the participants during the camp from well-recognized speakers, not only in the Province but also in its neighboring provinces.

Some of these are on the Security Status of Comval Youth, Status of Children-in-Conflict-with-Law, Oplan Pagbabago Programs of PLGU, Establishing Youth and Government Partnership, Understanding Sustainable Development Goals, Youth Power through Social Media, and others.

One of the speakers, Mr. John Oliver Tablazon, the Provincial Youth Development Officer of Sarangani Province and Member of YFPM TALBOS Board of Trustees, challenged the participants during his lecture on Youth Impact in Empowering GIDAs.

“If you are really passionate about addressing a certain issue in your area, you need to own, co-own, and co-create it to bridge leadership,” he said.

Various challenges and Academic Competitions were also conducted to unleash the potentials of each participant and test their capacity to work in a group, which may contribute to the continued success of the organization.

Selected volunteers and Municipal Chapters of YFPM Comval were likewise recognized during its 5th Gawad Karangalan sa Limang Natatanging Wagi (KALINAW) Awarding on the 2nd day of the camp. This was attended by the Sangguniang Kabataan Provincial Federation President, Hon. Charlemagne Bautista; Chairperson of YFP Eastern Mindanao Council, Mr. Van Jorian Rufin; and YFPM TALBOS President, Ms. Evadyne May Dela Cerna.

The 4th PYPC Comval was made possible through the collaboration of different stakeholders such as the PLGU Comval, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Maragusan National High School. Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), LGU of Maragusan and other Municipal LGUs, Municipal Fire Marshal, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, 1001st Infantry Brigade, 701st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Information Agency XI, and Youth for Peace Movement (TALBOS).

Aside from his message, Governor Uy has also recognized the recent achievement of YFPM Comval as this year's Peace-builder Awardee of the Global Institute for Youth Development (GIYD) in the Philippines.#

Written by: Peace Communication Committee with Reports from Ronabelle M. Festin, News Writing Winner and Mae Atendido, Peace Communication Committee Coordinator

Photos by: Jess Elton Largado, YFPMCV Auditor and Mae Atendido