San Fran inspires Minglanilla youth

CEBU, Philippines - At least 34 out-of-school youth in the Municipality of Minglanilla hope to replicate the cleanliness they have observed from their experience during their Lakbay-Aral in Camotes group of islands courtesy of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The group, organized into an anti-graffiti team of Minglanilla, was made to observe and learn from the practices that made the Municipality of San Francisco won the Expanded-Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (e-GWEN) award for three straight years.

After what they saw in Camotes Island, the group assured that they will do their best to clean their town and wipe out the graffiti and vandalism.

Liga ng mga Barangay president Manolo Delgado said he hopes the experience will also inspire the barangay captains to follow the example on cleanliness.

Delgado also expressed his gratitude to Garcia for giving them the opportunity to go on an educational tour.

After inviting them to join the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Southern Heritage Trail for a day last October, Garcia promised them the Lakbay-Aral in Camotes. The participants went to Camotes with the town’s barangay captains.

The youngsters are part of the town’s anti-graffiti team. They are tasked to revive the town’s clean image.

Garcia said it would benefit the youngsters to see personally the examples set by three towns in the Camotes group of islands as far as maintaining cleanliness is concerned.

The governor earlier expressed hope that such examples will be replicated in Minglanilla.

During her visit in Minglanilla prior to the last Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, Garcia commended the improvement on the bridges, walls and curbs in Minglanilla, as far as cleanliness is concerned.

Garcia met the members of Bloods, Crips and Hardcore in the town who expressed willingness to end their long time rift and instead work together in cleaning up the graffiti, which they claimed responsibility for.

Representatives of the three groups signed a peace treaty in the presence of Garcia, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Vice Mayor Elanito Peña and Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Manolo Delgado during the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo.

The groups agreed to “develop their individual and collective capacity to resist violence” separately and jointly. They also agreed to have their leaders consult with each other from time to time on the implementation of the treaty. – (FREEMAN)