Lasam youth leaders were convened by the Lasam Youth Development Office (LYDO) and Municipal Local Government Office (MLGO) last November 10, 2022 for an alliance meeting leading to the formation of the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC). The Lasam-LGU, headed by Mayor Dante Dexter A. Agatep, recognizes the vital role of youth leaders in community development.
Held at the Municipal Session Hall, LYD Officer-designate, Gerlyn Yang, opened the session by presenting the Lasam youth scenario, and rationale for the meeting. With the Sangguniang Kabataan, at least 14 youth groups, mostly the Supreme Student Governments (SSGs) of Lasam high schools were represented by their respective chairpersons and advisers. These youth groups come from:
Lasam Academy
Callao National High School
Nabannagan National High School
Sicalao Integrated High School
Western Cagayan School of Arts and Trades (WCSAT)
San Lorenzo Ruiz Educational Institute (SLREI)
Cagayan State University (CSU)
Pag-asa Youth Association, Inc (PYAPI)
Young People Church of God
The other youth groups that sent expressions of support for the formation of the Council were: Cabatacan National High School, Lasam Catholic Youth Ministry, Kabataan Kontra sa Droga Organization, and United Methodist Youth Fellowship.
Sangguniang Kabataan Federation Chair Jerwin Manuel presented the 2023 Local Youth Development Plan. He later reiterated the importance of consultative meetings between barangay SKs and the Youth Council for Lasam-LGU to be responsive to the needs of more youths. He shared also with the group the Council’s anti teen-age pregnancy campaign as a response to rising cases of teen-age pregnancies in Lasam.
MGL Officer Reenie Heidy Tollo for her part discussed the role of youth leaders in community development, with the following priority areas of concerns: education, livelihood, health, disaster management, climate change, HIV-AIDS, drug abuse, solid waste management and environmental protection.
Some of the those present shared their school youth program best practices:
Mr. Mark Jelico Rodillas of CSU Campus Student Council shared their Material Recovery Facility (MRF) which addresses environmental protection. For Sicalao Integrated High school, Ms. Teresita Sorita shared that they conduct clean up and tree-planting drives at Sicalao Highest Point and Sirok ti Rangtay, both of which have been frequented by visitors lately.
Mr. Anthony Baccay of WCSAT shared their health program for students—providing simple breakfast after they have noticed that some of their students come to school with empty stomach. Ms. Arlene Jurado of Callao National High School also related similar health concern—that some of their students are under-nourished.
SB Lilibeth Barut del Rosario delivered a closing remarks enjoining the youth leaders to take part in the activities addressing various youth concerns and emphasizing their role in education. She also called on the youth leaders to act as warriors against cyberbullying.
"Youth development is among the priority programs of Lasam-LGU as the youth sector is an important segment of our community. Our youth-related programs helped us clinched the first SGLG award recently accorded by the DILG to Lasam-LGU," she concluded.