Youth

Youth to the Rescue

In this day and age, natural calamities are a sad reality for any country, more so for the Philippines.

In the past few years, we have been on the receiving end of vicious typhoons, brutal storm surges, earthquakes, and other adverse calamities.

In 2013, typhoon Yolanda, the deadliest typhoon in our history, affected millions of people and took thousands of lives in Eastern Visayas. This super–typhoon earned us the top rank in the 2013 Climate Risk Index (CRI), which ranks countries affected by extreme weather events .

In addition, the Long–Term Climate Risk Index (CRI) ranked the Philippines fifth most affected country in the world, driving us to continue our efforts in disaster risk mitigation, preparedness, and recovery.

And though these indicators are definitely troubling, the good news is that hope and inspiration flow from the many stories of young Filipinos who are working to help mitigate disaster. They volunteer for, even spearhead programs on disaster risk reduction and we need not look further than this year’s Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Award winners for examples.

In Cauayan City, Isabela, the Red Cross Youth and Junior Rescue Team builds eco-rafts out of recycled plastic bottles for communities prone to flooding, keeping families afloat and ushering them to safety.

In the Visayas, the Hayag Youth Organization based in Ormoc, Leyte organizes “Swim for Safety” or “Langoy Para saKaluwasan” programs teaching the youth in disaster-prone communities how to swim – a life-saving skill many Filipinos still do not possess.

Young Filipinos are also on the frontlines of disaster response. When a ship sank off the coast of Cebu, it was the children from the coastal communities that served as first responders, even performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to save an 8-month old baby.

These heroes learned emergency response, first aid, evacuation, and other disaster-related skills from a 56-hour training program organized by the Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID), a youth group based in Cebu City.

These are only three of many more initiatives lead by young Filipinos. The Filipino youth, without a doubt, have made tangible contributions in the field of disaster risk reduction and management – and they will continue to do so with their ideas, innovations, and passionate hearts.

Thus, it came as no surprise that many supported the Responsive, Empowered, Service-Centric or RESCYouth Act of 2015, a legislation that requires youth involvement in disaster risk management in the national and local levels.

This act institutionalizes the participation of the youth in the planning, strategizing, organizing, and execution of our national disaster plan and ensures thata youth representative be part of the disaster coordinating councils in every region, province, city, municipality, and barangay.

Time and time again, the youth sector has proven that, given the opportunity and the right tools, they are able to contribute in nation building.

The RESCYouth Act of 2015 embodies this ideology, enlisting our bright, impassioned, determined, resourceful, and brave young Filipinos in the development of a Philippines that is well informed, incredibly prepared, and exceptionally resilient to disaster.

 

First Published on Manila Bulletin

Bam on his Year 2 Accomplishments (Transcript of Interview)

Well, ito pong mga batas po naming ito, alam ninyo po, dalawa po itong committee po natin.  Ang una sa Youth, tsaka iyong Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.  Kaya kung napapansin po natin, lagi po ang ating usapin ay usaping pang-kabataan at usaping pang-negosyo. 

Kaya gusto ko po sanang ireport na hindi po nasayang ngayon sa pangalawang taon ko po dito sa Senado.

Responsive, Empowered Service-Centric Youth Act of 2015

Meron po tayong dalawang napakagandang batas na umuusad. Iyong isa po riyan, yung tinatawag nating RESCYouth.

Ito po iyong batas at napasa na po on third reading. So actually hinihintay na lang po natin iyong counterpart sa Kongreso.  Ang nakalagay po rito, na sa ating NDRRMC, iyong ating National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, kinakailangang may kinatawan ang mga kabataan.

Nakita po kasi namin na, sa bawat delubyong nangyayari ay mga kabataan iyong mga kauna-unahang volunteer, eh ‘di ba kabataan.  Sino ba iyong nagpupuno roon sa mga repacking stations natin, ‘di ba iyong mga kabataan?

Nakita rin naming na marami ring mga youth groups na nagbibigay ng first aid, sumasama sa red cross, nagtuturo ng mga CPR, iyong paglangoy, so marami po talagang kabataan ang involved, pero hindi sila involved sa pagpaplano ng disaster risk management.

Lahat po ng ating Disaster Management Councils, magkakaroon po ng youth representative.

Iyong kaalaman, experiences, pwedeng maibahagi ng kabataan, mapapasama na po sa National Councils, sa NDDRMC, Provincial Councils, City Councils, Municipal Councils, kahit Baranggay Councils kasi mayroon na dapat po tayong mga konseho pagdating sa pagmanage ng mga delubyo sa ating bansa.

Youth Entrepreneurship Act

Itong pangalawa po, ratified na, pirma na lang po ng presidente natin ang kailangan. So we’re hoping, bago po mag SONA, pirmado na po ito.

Ito po iyong Youth Entrepreneurship Act.  Ang kapartner po namin dito ay si Br. Armin Luistro at Deptartment of Education.

Napapansin po kasi namin na, pagdating po sa mga kabataan, mahalaga po talaga, iyong financial literacy o kaalaman sa paghawak ng pera at mga kaalaman sa pagnenegosyo.

Sa ngayon, sama-sama po iyan sa financial literacy, savings, investments, kaalaman sa pagtatayo ng sariling negosyo.  Maituturo na po finally sa ating educational system kasi po ‘di ba laging batikos sa ating educational system ay tinuturuan ka naman maging empleyado, kumbaga hindi tinuturuan para magtayo ng negosyo.

Maisasama na po iyan sa K to 12 at kadikit po niyan, magkakaroon po tayo ng fund para yung mga gustong magnegosyo na mga kabataan especially yung nasa K to 12 pwede pong mabigyan ng DepEd nang kaunting start up capital.  Hindi teorya lang yung kanilang pagtuto tapos magkakaroon pa po sila ng praktikal na kaalaman sa pagtatayo ng negosyo.

   

Sa mga Umuutang

Sanay na tayo na “ay umuutang lang iyan,” kahit iyong mga pinakamalalaking kumpanya umuutang, kahit po itong bansa natin, umuutang rin yan. Hindi po masama ang umutang, ang masama po ang umuutang ka ng hindi mo kayang bayaran.

O masama iyong umutang ka, na hindi mo naaral yung mga terms o laki ng interest.  Kahit 5-6, pero kung umuutang ka sa maayos na institusyon, hindi ho masama iyon, so iyong mga kaalaman ay mahalagang malaman ng ating mga kabataan.

We’re hoping na makatulong ito para bumaba ang bilang ng mga kabataang walang trabaho.

Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act

Mayroon po tayong batas noon na nagsasaad na kapag ikaw ay isang foreign ship, hindi ka puwedeng dumaong sa lahat ng ports ng Pilipinas.

Noon po, pag foreign vessel ka, mayroon kang i-import. Usually pipili ka lang ng isang puwedeng pagdaungan, usually Metro Manila iyan. Although international ang Davao at Cagayan de Oro, pero usually dito lang po iyan sa Metro Manila.

Kaya karamihan ng ships nasa Metro Manila kaya noon nagkaroon ng port congestion kung saan nagtaasan ang presyo ng bilihin dahil sobrang inefficient ng ating sistema.

Ngayon po, puwede nang dumaong ang ships sa multiple ports basta’t hindi siya kumukuha ng domestic goods. Kumbaga po, meron kang imported na goods, kunwari mayroon kang imported na mani, puwede kang mag-drop off sa Manila, puwede kang mag-drop off sa Cebu at sa Cagayan de Oro, hindi na lang sa iisa.

Kung kukuha ka naman, kailangang i-export mo ito patungong foreign port. Hindi ka puwedeng kumuha ng produkto sa Cagayan de Oro patungong Maynila. Para mabago po iyan, kailangang mabago ang Constitution dahil mayroon po tayong proteksiyon.

Pero pagdating sa importation at pag-e-export, puwede na po kayong kumuha kung foreign vessel ka.

Magmumura iyong cost natin ng pag-import at pag-export kasi hindi ka na kailangang mag-drop-off. Wala nang double handling. Now, bababa po niyan ang cost ng ating logistics.

Now, kahit naman po iyong local products natin, may mga imported raw materials iyan so makikita natin may mga porsiyento diyan dapat bumaba ang presyo at magsimula ang pagbaba ng presyo ng bilihin o di kaya’y makakatulong po iyan sa para hindi tumaas ang presyo ng bilihin.

To quote Venus Raj, “Major! Major!” po ang batas na ito kasi matagal na po itong gustong itulak pero hindi maipasa-pasa. Naipasa po namin lahat ng cargo lahat ng foreign ships.

Isipin niyo po, nag-e-export po tayo. We try to be competitive pero iyong cost ng pagdala ng produkto palabas, napakamahal. At the end of the day, iyon po ang hinahabol natin dito, ang magmura ang bilihin.

Philippine Competition Act

Eto po, for the second year ko po makakaa-apat po tayo. Ito po ang pangako natin na ito pong Philippine Competition Act, masabi ko na isa ito sa major, kung hindi man pinaka-major sa 16th Congress.

24 years na po ito sa Kamara, 24 years na hindi maipasa-pasa and dapat po 80 years na noong nakapasa tayo ng Philippine Competition Act.

Iyong mga ibang bansa po, marami po sa kanila, after World War 2 nagkaroon ng competition.  Ang Japan after World War II, devastated sila, doon nila binuo ang competition act para maging patas-patas ang pag-angat ng mga negosyo sa kanilang bansa.

Ito pong Philippine Competition Act, nakalagay po na walang anti-competitive agreements o agreements between companies na makakasama sa kompetisyon sa ating merkado o iipitin ang ibang players, especially ang maliliit.

Iyong pagiging monopolyo mismo, hindi po iyan pinagbabawal. Ang bawal ay naging monopolyo ka dahil nang-aabuso ka. Mahalaga po na mayroon po ang batas na ito.

Isa pang nilalabanan nito ang cartel. Halimbawa, negosyante ng garlic mag-uusap-usap na huwag munang maglabas ng produkto. Hintayin natin itong tumaas ang presyo, doon natin banatan ang merkado.

Ang tawag po diyan, price fixing. Iyan po very clear na pinagbabawal ng batas na ito. Pag ginagawa mo iyan, hindi iyan fair sa consumers. Hindi rin fair sa ibang traders o ibang businesses na nasa merkado mo.

Bawal na po ang cartel, iyong competitive agreement, ang pang-aabuso ng malalaking kompanya o abuse of dominant.

Bubuo tayo ng Philippine Competition Commission na quasi-judicial. Ibig sabihin po may mga kaso na puwedeng ilapit sa komisyon na iyon, at sasabihin nila, may bawal dito, puwede mong multahan iyong mga kompanya.

Puwede mong multahan kung kriminal na iyan. Kung cartel, puwede mong ilapit sa DOJ, may prison time na iyan. Ito’y karaniwan sa iba’t ibang bansa mundo.

Kakaunti na lang po ang walang competition law. Ito po’y hindi bago sa mundo pero bago po sa ating bansa, na ngayon lang tayo nagkaroon ng batas tungkol dito.

Ano po ang analogy natin dito? Kasi usong-uso ang NBA Finals, kumbaga po noon, sa barangay covered courts lang tayo naglalaro.

Kasi ang ekonomiya natin simple lang noon kaya pambarangay lang tayo. E ngayon po, gumaganda na ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, nag-PBA at NBA level na tayo.

Pag sa barangay lang naglalaro, walang referee, kayo-kayo lang iyon. Hindi malinaw ang rules, kanya-kanya kayo.

Pero kung gumaganda na ang ekonomiya niyo, kung nasa PBA ka na, o nasa NBA ka na, kailangan na ng referee.

Ang referee po dito, ang Philippine Competition Commission. Hindi po siya nandiyan para ipitin ang mga naglalaro. Nandiyan siya para masiguro na maayos ang pakikitungo ng bawat grupo at patas ang laban.

Kunwari, isa kang Cleveland Cavaliers at mayroon kang LeBron James ay sobrang galing mo. Hindi ka puwedeng mambalya, hindi ka puwedeng maniko, tatawagan ka ng foul. Ooppss bawal iyan. Puwede kayong mag-compete pero sa tamang patakaran.

Usually po ang bicam dalawang oras, ito po apat na araw, 30 hours ang bicam pero alam niyo po, I’m proud of this bill.

Nagtulungan po diyan ang Congress, ang Senate, DTI, DOJ at NEDA. Tulung-tulong po kami para maipasa ang batas na ito. Ito po ang handog namin sa maliliit na negosyante.

Our small players na usually binu-bully ng mga malalaking kompanya, iyong ating consumers na kapag may cartel, usually mataas ang bilihin. Ito po iyong handog namin sa inyo na magkaroon ng patas-patas na presyo ng bilihin, patas-patas na rules at hindi ho tayo namamanipula ng ilang grupo sa binabayaran nating produkto.

BIDA KA!: We Generation

Mga Bida, nakakalungkot mang banggitin pero tinagurian nang “me generation” ang ating mga kabataan sa kasalukuyan.

Ito’y dahil sa tingin na karamihan sa kanila ay puro na lang ­selfie, gimik, video games at ­party na lang ang ginagawa at wala nang pakialam sa pagpapaunlad ng bansa.

Ito rin ang ipinintang imahe sa mga kabataan sa mga pelikula at babasahing tumatak nang malalim sa isipan ng karamihan.

Ngayon, kahit maganda ang intensyon sa pagtulong ay nahi­hirapan na ang mga grupo ng kabataan na burahin ang itinatak sa kanila ng lipunan.

Ngunit hindi ito naging hadlang para sa maraming grupong kabataan na maglunsad ng mga programa para sa kapakanan ng kapwa at kaunlaran ng bayan.

***

Halimbawa na lang nito ang Gualandi Volunteer Service Program, Inc., isang non-government organization ng mga ­kabataan na nakabase sa Cebu City.

Ito ay binuo ng ilang mga kabataan noong 2005 upang ­isulong ang kapakanan ng mga kababayang may kapan­sanan sa pandinig.

Maliban dito, pinangungunahan din ng grupo ang laban kontra sa pang-aabuso sa mga kabataan na walang kakayahan para maipagtanggol ang sarili.

Sa ilalim ng programang Break the Silence Network ­Project, tinutulungan ng grupo ang mga bata at kababaihang biktima ng pang-aabuso.

Itinataguyod din ng grupo ang pagsusulong sa Filipino Sign Language (FSL) bilang pambansang sign language ng mga kababayan nating may depekto sa pandinig.

Bilang suporta, ako’y naghain ng Senate Bill No. 2118 o Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Act of 2014, na kapag naisa­batas ay magtatakda sa FSL bilang opisyal na wikang gagamitin ng pamahalaan sa lahat ng transaksyon sa mga kaba­bayan nating bingi.

***

Magandang halimbawa rin ang ipinakita ng TC Youth Laboratory Cooperative (Mindanao), na nakabase naman sa Tagum City.

Apat na taon na ang nakalipas, sinimulan ng grupo ang proyektong “Financial Literacy for Youth Program” kung saan nag-ikot sila sa mga paaralan sa Tagum City upang turuan ang mga estudyante ng kaalaman ukol sa financial literacy at hinikayat silang sumali sa kooperatiba.

Nagsimula ang TCYLC na mayroong 48 miyembro na may P8,000. Sa ngayon, mayroon na silang mahigit 1,000 ­miyembro na may mahigit P2.4 milyon.Ang programang ito ng TCYLC ay isa sa naging inspirasyon ko sa paghahain ng Youth Entrepreneurship Act, kung saan itinuturo sa mga kabataan ang kaalaman sa tamang pagba-budget, pagtitipid, pag-i-invest at iba pang kasanayan sa ­financial literacy.

Kahanga-hanga ang ginawa ng dalawang grupong ito ­dahil hindi sila nagpapigil sa kanilang hangaring makatulong sa kapwa sa kabila ng malaking pagsubok.

***

Hindi man napansin ng karamihan sa lipunan ang kanilang nagawa, nabigyang halaga naman ang kanilang mga pagsisikap nang mapabilang sila sa mga nagwagi sa 11th Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards noong 2013.

Maliban sa dalawa, kabilang din sa mga nagwagi noong nakarang taon ay ang Association of Locally Empowered Youth-NM sa Initao, Misamis Oriental, Hayag Youth Organization sa Ormoc City, Leyte, Kawil Tours sa Coron, Palawan, Tanay Mountaineers sa Rizal, Tulong sa Kapwa ­Kapatid sa Culiat, Quezon City, United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary Foundation University ­Chapter sa Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, at University of San Carlos-Pathways at Volunteer Service Provider sa Mandaue City, Cebu.

Tulad nila, mabibigyan din ng pagkakataon ang iba pang youth organizations na makilala ang kanilang ambag sa lipunan ngayong bukas na ang pagpapatala para sa TAYO 12 na tatagal hanggang September 30.

Ang pagpapatala ay bukas sa lahat ng mga grupo at organi­sasyon na binubuo ng 15 o higit pang miyembro na may edad 15 hanggang 30 taon.

Maaaring magsumite ang mga interesadong grupo ng katatapos o nagpapatuloy na programa o ‘di kaya’y entry na nakum­pleto na o ang malaking bahagi ay tapos na bago ang deadline.

Ang mga sumusunod na pamantayan ay gagamitin sa pagpili: 1 Bigat ng proyekto sa stakeholders; 2. Pagpapalakas ng diwa ng volunteerism at citizenship; 3. Pagiging malikhain at kakaiba, 4. Sustainability ng proyekto; at 5. Ang mainam na paggamit ng mga resources.

Para sa mga nais suma­li, ang iba pang impormasyon at ang online entry form ay makikita sa www.tayoawards.net. Para sa katanungan, maaaring mag-text sa TAYO Secretariat sa 0917 TXT-TAYO (898-8296) o mag-e-mail sa tayo.secretariat@gmail.comThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Para sa kabatiran ninyo mga Bida, ang TAYO Awards ay sinimulan no­ong 2002 ng inyong lingkod at ni dating senador at ngayo’y agriculture czar Kiko Pangilinan.

Sa mga nakalipas na taon, mahigit 2,000 youth organizations mula sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas ang lumahok sa nasabing parangal.

Nais ninyo bang mapabilang sa hanay ng “we generation”? Sali na!

 

First Published on Abante Online

SRN-1268: Youth Unemployment

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE INCREASE OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE NEED TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND FORMULATE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF YOUNG FILIPINOS, INCLUDING THE UNEMPLOYED YOUTH, WORKERS IN VULNERABLE EMPLOYMENT AND YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

Whereas, the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the State shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all. The State also recognizes the role of the youth in nation building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being;

Whereas, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the National Statistics Office (NSO), the unemployment rate increased to 6.6 percent in January 2015, from 6 percent as reported in October 2014. The employment rate is estimated at 93.4 percent in January 2015, up from 92.5 percent last 2014. There were 37.4 million employed people: 54.6 percent worked in the services sector, 29.5 in agriculture and 15.9 percent in industry sector;

Whereas, the age bracket from 15 to 24 years old accounted for 49.1 percent of . total unemployed, while the age group 25 to 34 accounted for 31.6 percent. This is estimated at around 8.5 million youth unemployed, a slight increase from last year, which is 8.2 million. By educational attainment, 20.4 percent were college graduates, 13.0 percent were college undergraduates, and 34.4 percent were high school graduates. Underemployment has marginally decreased this year, a decrease of 42,000 underemployed Filipinos this year, but that is still 6.9 million Filipinos underemployed;

Whereas, based on the data by the PSA, the quality and type of employment also remains a challenge. Employment growth is greatly attributed to the increased number of part time employment, alongside the increase in self-employment (407,000 new selfemployed workers) and unpaid family workers (292,000). Together, they contributed to 68.3% of those employed. However, this type of employment is considered vulnerable and thus, marginally contributory to the overall growth of the economy;

Whereas, quite a number of policy initiatives had been introduced to address youth unemployment problems including provision of labor market information, skills training and upgrading, online job-matching and improving entrepreneurship skills. Through the years, there has been mismatch between the available jobs and available skills in the labor force, which is considered as one of the main reasons for youth unemployment. There are employment opportunities but the young people are not fully equipped to handle the jobs available;

Whereas, there is a need to address the lack of capacity, coordination and collaboration among the relevant government offices and institutions such as the Department of Labor, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the National Economic Authority, among others. In order to strategically and significantly promote job generation for young Filipinos and propose interventions on economic policies, there should be a coordinated policy framework to address the challenges of youth unemployment;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the appropriate Senate committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the increase of youth unemployment and the need to create employment opportunities and formulate programs to address the needs of young Filipinos, including the unemployed youth, workers in vulnerable employment, and young entrepreneurs.
PDFiconDOWNLOAD SRN 1268

Sen. Bam’s Sponsorship on RESCYouth Act of 2015

Good afternoon, Mr. President and to my distinguished colleagues.  Mga kaibigan, mga kababayan, magandang hapon sa ating lahat!

 It is my great privilege to stand before you today in support of the institutionalization of youth participation in the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council or NDRRMC, as I sponsor the Responsive, Empowered and Service-Centric Youth or RESCYouth Act of 2015, or Senate Bill No. 2789, under Committee Report No. 161, entitled An Act Including The National Youth Commission Chairperson As A Member Of The National Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Council, Amending For The Purpose Republic Act No. 10121, Otherwise Known As The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Act Of 2010.

Our beloved country is one of the most vulnerable nations to the threat of climate change.

According to the Long Term Climate Risk Index (CRI), which ranks countries affected by extreme weather events, the Philippines ranked fifth in the world. And in the 2013 Climate Risk Index (CRI), our country is ranked the number one most affected with over 24 billion US Dollars in losses that year.

As we all know, in 2013, Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan, the deadliest typhoon in our history, affected over 14 million people and took over 6,000 lives in Eastern Visayas. To this day, we are still trying to recover from the tragedy.

 Mr. President, as we are in the receiving end of vicious typhoons, brutal storm surges, earthquakes, and other adverse calamities, we have taken steps and have made leaps in preparing for such occasions.

We have the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) project led by our very own world-renowned scientist Dr. Mahar Lagmay.

Just last week, the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) released the Valley Fault Atlas containing large scale maps of the areas traversed by the West Valley Fault – a starting point in preparing for a potential earthquake in Metro Manila.

The NDRRMC has also released the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) for 2011 to 2028, which identifies the capacities we need to develop and the roadmap to follow in order to become truly resilient in the face of catastrophe. This plan not only focuses on preparedness and response, but also on prevention and rehabilitation before and after a crisis.

Moreover, we are seeing movements on the ground.  National agencies, local government units and the private sectors have constantly coordinated to be better prepared for disasters by educating our fellow Filipinos, acquiring more equipment for rescue and first aid, and institutionalizing relief operations and quick response teams, among other efforts.

Not surprisingly, the youth is playing a vital role in our pursuit for overall disaster resilience.  They have served as a beacon of hope and catalyst of action. 

Student councils lead schools to become depositories of donations and efficient centers for packing and deployment of relief goods, never running out of willing volunteers.

 In addition, social media turns from a platform of selfies into a nerve center for information, tips and news monitoring during typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic movements.

Mr. President, our youth organizations have also created innovative solutions to help their communities become more resilient, adaptive to the changing climate.

 Sa Cauayan City, Isabela, ang ating Ten Accomplished Youth Organization Awardee na Red Cross Youth and Junior Rescue Team ay nakalikha ng Disaster Management Eco-rafts mula sa recycled plastic bottles para sa mga nakatira sa malapit sa ilog at mga lugar kung saan madalas na binabaha.  

Tuwing may bagyo at umaakyat ang tubig, ginagamit ang mga eco-raft na ito ng mga pamilya roon upang makaligtas sa sakuna.

Mahalaga na may alam at kasanayan ang ating mga kababayan sa basic life support, first-aid training at rescue operations lalo na sa panahon ng kapahamakan. Naranasan ito mismo ng Hayag Youth Organization ng Ormoc, Leyte.

Isang araw, habang sila ay nasa isang mangrove planting activity, biglang tumaob ang kanilang bangka. Nalaman nilang wala sa kanila ang marunong lumangoy! Buti na lang, hindi lampas-tao ang tubig na kanilang nahulugan.

Dahil sa karanasang ito, isinagawa nila ang “Swim for Safety” o “Langoy Para sa Kaluwasan” na isa nilang advocacy sa disaster preparedness.

Mr. President, noong 1991, nagkaroon ng isang matinding flash flood sa Ormoc at libo-libo po ang namatay. Noong tamaan ng bagyong Yolanda ang Ormoc, lahat ng miyembro ng Hayag na tinuruang lumangoy ay naligtas sa delubyo.

Ang Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail o RAPID ay malaki rin ang naitulong at marami na ang nailigtas sa kanilang 56-hour training program kung saan itinuturo ang emergency response, first aid, bandaging, evacuation at iba pang kaalaman at kasanayan na kakailanganin tuwing may sakuna.

Ang mga nagtapos sa training program ng RAPID ang mga ilan sa first responders noong typhoon Yolanda, lindol sa Bohol, at pati sa lumubog na barko ng 2Go kung saan isinigawa ng mga trainees ang kanilang natutunan na cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR upang mailigtas ang sanggol na 8-months old pa lamang!

Napakarami na ngayong mga youth groups na nagtuturo ng mga kasanayang ito at kumukuha ng mga volunteers para mas maparami ang may kaalaman sa disaster response and rescue – mula sa Hayag Youth Organization sa Ormoc, Leyte, sa Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID) sa Cebu, hanggang sa Muntinlupa Junior Rescue Team at The Responders sa South Central Mindanao.

Mr. President and esteemed colleagues, all over the country, young Filipinos are dedicating their time, energy, and skills to build a strong and resilient Philippines ready to take on overwhelming tragedies.  

They are involved in the whole process of disaster reduction and mitigation efforts – from education and prevention, to rescue and first response, to relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The Filipino youth has proven to be key partners in nation building. Let us empower them further by institutionalizing youth involvement in disaster risk reduction and management.

Right now, local government units are already working with the youth, usually as volunteers. The RESCYouth Act of 2015 raises this level of participation and includes the youth in the planning process, identifying strategic efforts, mobilizing communities, and making risk preparedness and disaster resiliency as part of Filipino culture.

This Act includes the National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairman in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and subsequently, involves youth representatives in the local levels by their inclusion in the Regional, Provincial, City, Municipal, and Barangay Disaster Coordinating Councils.

Mr. President, sa RESCYouth Act of 2015, mapakikinggan na sa bawat komunidad – barangay man, lungsod, o probinsya – ang mahalagang boses ng kabataan upang mapabuti ang ating paghahanda para sa kalamidad.

We have received tremendous support for this legislation – from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) to the NDRRMC and the National Youth Commission.

Our stakeholders acknowledge the value of involving the youth in disaster risk reduction from the planning stage down to execution.

The NDRRMC, government agencies and local government units, schools, disaster management units, scientists and members of the academe, local businesses and the private sector, youth volunteers and youth groups – all of us, together, can make significant progress in our country’s ability to face calamity head on.

It is in trusting each other’s abilities and uniting all sectors, including the youth, that we can develop a Philippines that is well informed, incredibly prepared, and exceptionally resilient to disaster.

Let’s formally enlist our bright, impassioned, determined, resourceful, and brave young Filipinos by passing the RESCYouth Act of 2015.

Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat, maraming maraming salamat at mabuhay ang kabataang Pilipino!

Sen. Bam Lauds Outstanding Youth Groups in TAYO Awards Finals

Senator Bam Aquino lauds the twenty youth organizations that made it to the national finals of the 12th Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards for their untiring efforts to address problems in their respective communities.

The National Capital Region (NCR) will be represented by Phi Lambda Delta Sorority, Children Museum and Library Inc. Junior Council Alumni Association, UP Circuit, Kanlungan Pilipinas Movement Inc., and UP Business Administration Student Council.

From Luzon, Youth for Environment in School Organization, LCNHS-Ransohan Ext, Red Cross Youth and Junior Rescue Team, CITE Youth Volunteer Group, Katipunan ng mga Kabataang Santiagueno, and Indigenous Youth Servant Leaders Association of the Philippines-Isabela made it to the national stage.

Kwaderno, Order of Asclepius, Rapid, Inc., University of San Agustin Little Theater and Youth for a Livable Cebu emerged as winners in the Visayas area finals held in Iloilo City last Nov. 9-10.

Finally, Move this World-Pilipinas Inc, ACCESS PYLP Alumni Association Inc.-ZAMBASULTA Chapter, Hearts and Brains Youth Volunteers, New Breed Special Force, and Rebirth Outdoor Trekkers and Adventurers Philippines Incorporated clinched the five spots for Mindanao after the area finals held in Cagayan de Oro.

“We laud these youth organizations for their untiring efforts and perseverance to find new solutions to solve age-old problems in their respective communities,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and TAYO Awards co-founder.

“These TAYO national finalists have taken the initiative and went out of their way to help in the best way they can,” the senator added.

The 20 national finalists were determined after a grueling week of deliberation by a select panel of judges, led by NYC Commissioners Dingdong Dantes, Perci Cendaña, Earl Saavedra and Jose Rafael Cruz, and representatives from the TAYO Alumni, media and corporate sponsors.

“While we can only pick five groups each from NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, all the participants are already winners in their own right for effecting change in their respective communities through different programs and projects,” Aquino said.

The judging that will determine this year’s winners is tentatively scheduled on December 8-9, at the Senate Building in Pasay City.

The annual search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) is the country’s premier recognition program for youth organizations.

Since its inception in 2002, the TAYO Awards Foundation has successfully gained credibility as an institution that recognizes and supports the outstanding contributions of youth organizations to the country.

The annual TAYO Awards is organized by the TAYO Awards Foundation, Inc., the National Youth Commission, Coca-Cola Foundation and the Office of Senator Bam Aquino.

Youth Groups Converge to Create DRR National Network

Senator Bam Aquino aims to create a powerful network of young Filipinos who can provide dependable support during calamities and disasters and beef up the country’s disaster risk reduction (DRR) management program.

Aquino made this pronouncement after the successful staging of a two-day consultation and design thinking workshop, dubbed as “RESCYouth: Responsive, Empowered and Service-Centric Youth,” held at the RAFI Kool Adventure Camp in Balamban, Cebu.

Coming from different parts of the country, participants who attended the event are involved in the different facets of DRR, such as disaster preparation, rescue, relief and rehabilitation.

Others are volunteer firefighters, first responders and peacekeepers in their respective localities, like the Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID) of Cebu City and the Ormoc City-based Hayag Youth Organization.

RAPID has vast experience in relief and rescue operation. They were one of the first responders in Tacloban City after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda.  They also helped rescue passengers of a passenger vessel that collided with a cargo ship in Cebu last year.

Hayag, for its part, has been teaching swimming, disaster preparedness, first aid and open water safety training to youth.  They have successfully taught their members when no one among them had a major accident when Typhoon Yalanda hit Ormoc City last year.

“We can make this network a powerful network of young Filipinos who can make a difference,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth.

“May disaster man o wala, naririyan tayo para magtulungan at magsama-sama upang matalo natin iyong pinakamamalaking problema sa ating bayan,” he added.

After calamities and disasters, Aquino hopes the network could address other problems hounding the society, such as hunger, lack of education and poverty.

During the event, about 100 youth participants were able to formulate ways and programs that can help improve the country’s present DRR management schemes.

“We expect participants to help this program expand to their respective organizations and communities so many people will benefit from it,” Aquino said.

Participants also committed to closely coordinate with other organizations to expand their network and widen their knowledge about DRR management.

“We will have these organizations as our focal point of support during disasters,” Aquino said.

During the workshop, several personalities shared their experiences and knowledge in DRR management, including Mayor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier of Javier, Leyte, Gawad Kalinga’s Mark Lawrence Cruz and Mario Urrutia III of Reporter’s Notebook.

GMA-7’s resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz, Hapinoy Executive Director TJ Agulto and Voltaire Tupaz of Rappler also imparted their knowledge to the participants.

RESCYouth to Boost DRR Knowledge Among Youth

In an effort to educate and equip the youth with the proper knowledge in disaster risk reduction (DRR), the Office of Senator Bam Aquino has organized a consultation and design thinking workshop that will be held in Balamban, Cebu from Nov. 6-7.

Dubbed as “RESCYouth: Responsive, Empowered and Service-Centered Youth,” the two-day workshop will be held at the RAFI Kool Adventure Camp.

“As observed in the past, the youth sector is always at the forefront of relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation during disasters such as the Cebu earthquake and typhoon Yolanda,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth.

“The manpower and innovative ideas they share with communities help contribute to the fast and efficient emergency relief operations, making them a key partner in disaster management,” the senator added.

Around 100 youth organizations from different parts of the country and have existing DRR programs and projects are expected to attend the workshop.

During the workshop, youth organizations will have an active exchange of ideas regarding best DRR practices, leading to the creation of new schemes that will enhance present DRR management program in different areas of the country.

“As we remember the victims and survivors of Yolanda this week, we need to equip our young people with tool and skills to better prepare and respond for disasters,” Aquino added.

The workshop is also aimed at equipping participants with DRR knowledge and information that they can share to their respective communities.

Aside from Senator Aquino, other speakers during the workshop are Mayor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier of Javier, Leyte, Gawad Kalinga’s Mark Lawrence Cruz and Mario Urrutia III of Reporter’s Notebook, GMA7.

GMA-7’s resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz, Hapinoy Executive Director TJ Agulto and Zak Yuson of Rappler’s MovePH are also expected to impart their knowledge and experience during the workshop.

The speakers will discuss different topics, ranging from best practices of local government units (LGUs) during disasters, tapping the spirit of volunteerism during relief and rescue operations and the role of media as information dissemination arm.

Co-Sponsorship Speech of Sen. Bam Aquino on the Sangguniang Kabataan Reforms

Senate Bill No. 2401 under Committee Report No. 75
Otherwise known as the
Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014

Senator Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV
16th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Co-Sponsorship Speech, 29 October 2014

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, good afternoon.

It is my honor and privilege to stand before you today to support the development of our Filipino youth leaders and spur the next set of Filipino heroes, as I co-sponsor Senate Bill No. 2401 under Committee Report No. 75  otherwise known as the Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014.

In a country where half of the population are 15-30 years old, it is our duty to provide  an enabling environment for the youth to be able to participate in building our nation.

The Filipino youth have the innate energy, creativity and innovative ideas to come up with new solutions to address the age-old problems of the country.

It is thus urgent to harness their full potential as a partner in the development of our country, to encourage their active participation in programs and projects of communities and engage them in transparent and accountable governance.

Ang kabataan ay hindi lang ang pag-asa sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan. May kakayahan na silang maging bahagi sa pagbabago ngayon at sa kasalukuyan.

Mr. President, para sa inyong kaalaman, ang title ng una kong panukala para sa bill na ito ay Ang Liga ng Bayaning Kabataan. 

Even though it was not carried in the amendments, we chose that title because we believe that the reforms for the Sangguniang Kabataan would develop more heroes among our Filipino youth, who are ready to sacrifice and give their time, talents and resources for the benefit of our countrymen.

Mr. President, my career as a public servant started in the youth movements, where I served as a member of the student council, which promoted volunteerism among our fellow students, and even at times, went to the streets to fight for the social issues of the day.

Noong ako po ay naging Chairman ng National Youth Commission noong 2002, binuo namin ang Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO) Awards na hanggang ngayon ay nagbibigay parangal sa pinakamagagaling na youth organizations sa bansa.

We recognize these youth groups that have made an impact all over the country through projects in education, health, livelihood and the like. 

Isa sa mga nanalo ay ang Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme, Inc. (GVSP) ng Cebu.  Natuklasan nila na isa sa bawat tatlong batang pipi’t bingi ang namomolestya sa kanilang lungsod. 

Kaya gumawa sila ng information campaign laban sa sexual abuse ng mga pipi’t bingi at kilalanin ang karapatan ng mga persons with disabilities.

Napansin naman ng Dire Husi Initiatives sa Cagayan de Oro ang mga batang lansangang naaadik sa rugby.

Kaya tinipon nila ang mga ito, pinakain, binigyan ng arts education at livelihood training para di na malulon sa droga at magkaroon ng mas magandang kinabukasan.

Ang huli kong halimbawa ay ang Hayag Youth Organization ng Ormoc City.  Tinuruan nilang lumangoy ang kabataan sa kanilang lugar at nagbigay sila ng iba pang water-disaster preparedness training bilang paghahanda sa mga sakuna.

Nang dumagsa ang Bagyong Yolanda, walang nalunod o naaksidente sa kanilang mga miyembro dahil sa kanilang training program.

Mr. President, the Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme, Dire Husi Initiatives and Hayag Youth Organization are only three youth groups among thousands who have spent their time creating relevant and innovative projects that address different issues in their communities such as PWD abuse, drug addiction and disaster risk preparedness and management.

Admittedly, if we talk about the Sangguniang Kabataan, there seems to be a disconnect with the youth that I have mentioned, and the reality on the ground for a number of Sangguniang Kabataan.

But today, we have the opportunity to change this notion if we pass this measure – the 2014 Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Bill.

We want to create an enabling environment for more young people to serve and find the heroism in them and hence, we are pushing for the reforms found in this bill.

After much debate and discussion, we want to highlight three points which we feel would encourage more young people to participate and spur heroism.

These are: expanding the age limit, creating local youth development councils and lastly, ensuring more relevant programs and projects of the SK all over the country.

Expanding the Age Limit
Firstly, we are proposing to expand the age range from 15 to 30 years old, in accordance to Republic Act 8044 or the Youth in Nation Building Act of 1994, and to peg the age of officers between ages 18 to 24.

The reform in age range will enable a greater number of youth to participate and give officials more independence in their affairs, such as signing contracts, disbursing money, and making them more accountable for their actions.

Youth Organizations Participation: Local Youth Development Council
The second major reform that we are pushing for is the introduction of the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), a council that will support the Sangguniang Kabataan and ensure the participation of more Filipino youth through youth organizations.

The LYDC will compose of representatives from the different youth organizations in the community – student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and community-based youth groups.

It aims to harmonize, broaden and strengthen all programs and initiatives of the local government and non-governmental organizations for the youth sector.

The LYDC will serve as guide and refuge for the Sangguniang Kabataan so that their programs and policies will be rooted in the needs of the various youth oganizations that are present in their communities.

Mr. President, ang mga lungsod ng Pasay, Naga at Cebu ay kasalukuyang may mga LYDC upang mahikayat ang kanilang mga kabataang makibahagi sa mga programa ng kanilang LGU.

Sa Pasay, bahagi ang kabataan sa cleanliness at peace and order programs, at sa mga livelihood projects ng lungsod.

Sa Naga naman, nagfocus sila sa paggawa ng training at seminar para sa pisikal, pang-akademiko, psychological, at values formation ng kabataan.

At sa Cebu, kasama ang kabataan sa pagtatayo ng mga dormitories para sa kanilang migrant youth na nag-aaral sa iba’t ibang unibersidad ng kanilang lungsod.

In my time as the Chair of the National Youth Commission, I saw that this is a proven structure that can not only develop our Sangguniang Kabataan to be better leaders, but ensure that their decisions, actions and priorities are in line with the needs of the youth in their area.

Relevant and Impactful Programs and Projects
Lastly, we are pushing for the enumeration of clear themes of the programs and projects that can be explored by the LYDC and the SK in formulating their Youth Development Plans, to weed out tokenistic projects for the sake of having programs for the youth.

These programs need to meet the goals of promoting meaningful youth participation in nation-building, sustainable youth development and empowerment, equitable access to quality education, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and resiliency, youth employment and livelihood, health and anti-drug abuse, gender sensitivity, capability building and sports development.

We hope that the bill will also clarify the relationships between the Sangguniang Kabataan, the National Youth Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

By doing so, we ensure that the programs and policies that they will come up with will truly be relevant and impactful for the sector they are supposed to serve.

Developing the New Filipino Heroes
Mr. President, it is urgent and important that we reform the Sangguniang Kabataan, as a platform for engaging the youth in the grassroots level, and where the youth will be honed to become better and more effective public servants in the future.

It is now time to work on strengthening our leadership institutions, particularly youth development programs to form new leaders with technical and management competence, and are grounded on Filipino values.

Kung itataguyod po natin ang kapakanan ng kabataang Pilipino, mabibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataong / gamitin ang kanilang likas na pagiging malikhain at madiskarte / sa paggawa ng mga bagong proyekto at programa para sa ating bansa.

Professor Ambeth Ocampo, historian and youth advocate mentioned that our heroes where young when they changed the course of our country: “[Jose] Rizal published the Noli Me Tangere at 26, Juan Luna painted the Spolarium at 27, and [Andres] Bonifacio began the Revolution at 30… So if [we] think about it – our heroes are young.”

It is imperative that we provide an enabling environment for more young Filipinos to be the new heroes that our country needs.

Maraming salamat po at magandang hapon.

Mabuhay ang kabataang Pilipino!

Republic Act No. 10679 : Youth Entrepreneurship Act

“At a time when society’s biggest issue is youth unemployment, businesses and governments must work together to help young people develop an entrepreneurial mindset. That means fostering a culture which supports young people to take risks, set up businesses, create jobs and become masters of their own destiny. Whether it’s through finance, mentoring, incentives or training, we must all play our part so that this generation can achieve its full potential. The time to act is now.”

This is a quote from an Ernst & Young report called “Avoiding a Lost Generation,” produced in June 2013 for the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Summit. But it could very well reflect the imperatives for the youth of the Philippines. At a time when our youth popUlation forms a large percentage of our total popUlation, and when many of the unemployed belong to the youth sector, both the government and the private sector must work together to empower young Filipinos to be productive members of society. Aside from boosting job generation and gainful employment, our government must create the structures and the mechanisms to enable youth entrepreneurship as a pillar of inclusive growth.

In order to help create this environment, we propose the passage of the “Youth Entrepreneurship Bill”, which seeks to integrate entrepreneurship into our secondary and tertiary education curricula; facilitate grants both for the teaching and the practice of entrepreneurship; and develop a national youth entrepreneurship program to provide support to young entrepreneurs.

This Bill seeks the cooperation of different departments such as the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Aside from developing and  integrating entrepreneurship courses in the curriculum for secondary and post-secondary school students, they shall also be tasked to facilitate the provision of grants to ensure that our schools, teachers, and teaching partners have the capacity to teach these courses. Grants shall also be made available to support students who are pursuing studies and projects related to enterpreneurship.

Further, this Bill tasks the MSME Development Council to develop a National Youth Enterpreneurship Program that will provide young enterpreneurs with strategic support in terms of access to financing, capital, incubation, as well as technology and skills transfer services The MSME Development Council and the Small Business Corporation shall provide preferential allocation for the youth in connection with available credit funds.

This Youth Entrepreneurship Bill is focused on the youth entrepreneur, is inclusive, and is geared toward all types of entrepreneurial talent belonging to underrepresented populations and communities. This Bill aims for sustainability and will be designed for long-term implementation. If we make this a priority measure and pass this Bill, we can envision a future led by young Filipinos who have initiative, who are motivated and driven, and who have the best skills to succeed in creating businesses, proViding jobs, and making inclusive growth a reality.

 

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