Youth commission, fund for province in the works

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board has started creating a youth commission in response to the call of Governor Hilario Davide III during his inaugural address.

PB Member Jose Ribomapil Holganza Jr. sponsored the proposed ordinance creating the Provincial Youth Commission and its secretariat, and establishing the Provincial Youth Development Fund.

The proposed measure was already passed in first reading during its regular session last week.

The PYC shall be composed of the governor as the chairman with eight commissioners who are the presidents of the provincial Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, federations of organizations of students, community-based youths, working youths, out-of-school youths, youths with special needs, religious youths and youths serving organizations and institutions.

The presidents of the respective federations of youth organizations shall be appointed by the governor upon their election and shall continue to serve the PYC until their successors shall have been elected.

Among the objectives of the PYC are to develop and harness the full potential of the young Cebuanos as responsible partners in nation-building and to encourage active participation in all youth development programs, projects and activities.

Its functions include the formulation and recommendation of youth development policies to the Provincial Government, national agencies and local government units.

Holganza’s proposal also identified seven positions to compose the secretariat headed by an executive director and chief operation officer equivalent to a department head.

Holganza also proposed the amount of P10 million for the initial operations of the PYC and shall be part of the Provincial Youth Development Fund.

The PYDF shall include all appropriations provided by the provincial government for youth development purposes, all donations and grants, allocations from the national government agencies, local government units and the Priority Development Assistance Fund. BRP (FREEMAN)