Alay Lakad 2010 a success - organizer

CEBU, Philippines – The annual walk for a cause is gaining more popularity from people from different sectors who have chosen to help in providing education to out-of-school youth through the sacrifice of walking and donating loose change.

Yesterday's Alay Lakad was a success, said Steve N. M. Tan, executive director of the Alay Lakad Cebu Foundation Inc. and the number of participants may enable them to raise an amount more than their target.

They targeted to raise atleast P1.5 million this year to benefit 250 scholars.

Their highest donation was in the amount of P1 million from the Cebu City Government.

Tan said that they could not provide an exact estimate of the crowd because people come in and out of the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) where all participants converged after the walk.

But CCSC Manager Ricky Ballesteros said there were between 15,000 to 20,000 people. There were around 150 groups and organizations that participated excluding individuals who came to join.

Tan said that it is bigger this year because they were able to tap the Business Process Outsourcing Industry and more from the academe.

Last year, the foundation was able to raise around P700,000 from donations and raffle sales, P500,000 of which were spent for education assistance of the 200 beneficiaries from the month of January up to yesterday.

"If we raise more money, we can send more children to school. We are only targeting at least P1.5 million for 250 beneficiaries but we would wish to help more," Tan earlier said.

Also last year, the foundation provided free skills training to 110 out of school youth (OSYs) while another 70 to 80 slots will be available for this year. Screening for another batch of skills trainees starts next month.

Aside from those who apply to their office for scholarship, the foundation is also going to barangays and asking help from officials to help them identify those who genuinely need assistance. They then screen those in the list through individual and family visits.

The concept of Alay Lakad started in Manila in 1972 by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Boy Scouts of the Philippines and Girl Scouts of the Philippines as partners.

It was then launched nationwide with the participation of more sectors such as the civic clubs Jaycees, Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and Department of Education among others.

In 1974, Presidential Proclamation No. 1267 was signed declaring every third Sunday of June as Alay Lakad for Kabataan Day. But during the time of late President Corazon Aquino, this was moved to every first Sunday of every year.

Alay Lakad Cebu Foundation was launched in January 15 last year and since then it became an independent group but espousing the same goals and ideals of their counterparts all over the country.

At present the foundation is focusing on programs such as high school educational assistance, college scholarship and technical skills training. (FREEMAN)