11th search for TAYO 5 Visayas orgs vie for spot in nationals

CEBU, Philippines - Five school and youth-focused organizations will be representing the Visayas in the 11th search for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) in the Philippines.

From around 60 organizations all over Visayas, the top 10 made it to the area finals where they had to present their respective projects to a panel of judges who were tasked to choose the top five groups that will vie for a spot in the national finals.

Last October 1, the groups presented their projects and were judged based on the impact of their project, innovation and sustainability, effective use of resources and the volunteerism and citizenship the program was able to gather.

The top five include three organizations from Cebu, namely; Gualandi Volunteer Service Program, Inc, RAPID Inc. of Cebu, and University of San Carlos-Pathways while the other two organizations are Hayag Youth Organization and United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary- Foundation University Chapter.

The organizations will again present their project to the national panel along with other organizations from Luzon and Mindanao.

This year’s Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations will win P50,000 to support their programs from the TAYO Awards Foundation, Inc., the country’s only award giving body that recognizes and supports outstanding contributions of youth organizations in the country.

For Visayas’ top five organizations, unique projects have been implemented in line with their respective advocacies like on education, protection of rights of the deaf and mute and helping out of school youths who are dependent on illegal drugs.

The groups will be competing for the finals on November in Manila and winners will be awarded by President Benigno Aquino III.

TAYO is organized by TAYO Awards Foundation, Office of Senator Bam Aquino and the National Youth Commission, the policy-making body of the government focused on the youth sector.

NYC Commissioner for the Visayas Erwin Andaya expressed his excitement for the top organizations in Visayas this year who he said have excellent projects.

Andaya encouraged the youth organizations that did not make it to the top 5 as well as other organizations that have youth-focused programs to push through with their projects and continue to be the “voice of the sector.” — (FREEMAN)