At the conclusion of the Lasam Youth Leadership Summit, held on the occasion of Linggo ng Kabataan on August 10-11, 2023, Mayor Dante Dexter Agatep delivered the following speech before he swore in Natalged a Lasam Youth Ambassadors who will help strengthen youth representation and youth participation in local governance.
MAYOR AGATEP SPEECH: Youth Leadership Summit Aug. 11, Friday, 3:00 PM
Lt. Colonel Oliver C. Logan, 17thInfantry Battalion Commander…
Youth for Peace Cagayan President John Carlo Manzano…
SK Federation President Jerwin A. Manuel…
Dr. Ahllyn Danguilan and Punong Barangay Dennis Soriano, thank you for hosting this gathering …
Others who have worked hard in organizing this Youth Leadership Summit, on the occasion of Linggo ng Kabataan which we observe every month of August, thank you for your hardwork…
My dear youth leaders of Lasam…
You have been oriented on the Natalged a Lasam Development Goal Pillars (NLDGPs) presented by Architect Rodel Urian, our Head of Municipal Planning and Development yesterday…
At the start of my second term as duly elected Mayor, we adopted these NLDGPs upon which the projects and programs of the Local Government Unit of Lasam are anchored upon.
The last of these goals is represented in the letter M which stands for Mobilitization and Participation of Stakeholders in Community Building…
…this is exactly why I am speaking to you this afternoon.
Let me make a little throw-back to the time when I was a youth leader like you.
I was SK Federation President of Lasam for several years and I was duty-bound to ensure youth representation and youth participation in the local governance of our town.
And it should really be the case because the majority of our population—be it national or local—consists of the youth sector.
Our SK Federation President Jerwin Manuel is of course aware of this why he, together with our LYDO Designate Gerlyn Yang, have worked hard to organize this Youth Leadership Summit.
This Summit is intended for up-and-coming leaders to be equipped with the right mindset and skills relevant to the theme, “Green Skills for Youth Towards a Sustainable World.”
As your Local Chief Executive, I recognize the vital role of youth as stakeholders in our Natalged goals. And I personally want to strengthen youth representation and youth participation in the LGU by appointing Natalged Youth Ambassadors.
These Youth Ambassadors will help us determine policies that would enjoin youth involvement in each of the Natalged a Lasam Development Goal Pillars.
Youth leaders—and youth in general—have important roles …in safeguarding the environment and our natural resources;
… in ensuring agricultural productivity—Lasam being an agricultural town;
… in tourism promotion, in cultural and values development;
… in thinking about livelihood opportunities towards avoiding poverty;
…in disaster response or resiliency; in maintaining or promoting peace;
…more importantly, with education as your current priority—in attaining academic, including athletic excellence…
…You, young leaders of Lasam have crucial roles in the rest of the NLDGPs—which are the important facets of a progressive society.
I therefore enjoin each and every youth leader like you—our Natalged Youth Ambassadors, our outgoing SK and eventually, our incoming SK officers, and every youth leader of Lasam…
…to take part in paddling the boat called NATALGED A LASAM—so you may have a stake, an all-important role, in building a conducive community, that is — the Municipality of Lasam.
Thank you very much.
