NMYL Congress begins today

CEBU, Philippines - Around 1,300 young legislators from across the country are in Cebu City today until Saturday for the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) Congress and to elect the members of its National Executive Council.

NMYL Cebu Chapter President and Catmon Councilor Earl Tidy Oyas said most of the members have arrived as early as yesterday, which caused a slight problem with arrangements for accommodation.

“Being the host, we are helping the national secretariat to put everything in place. A lot of our colleagues came ahead of schedule,” Oyas said.

The check-in schedule for delegates at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, the venue of the event, as well as in other hotels, is today. Local organizers then had to look for available hotels to accommodate the early arrivals.

NMYL is a group composed of vice governors, provincial board members, vice mayors, and members of the city and municipal councils who are 40 years old and below and elected in the last election.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas is expected to arrive this afternoon during the opening ceremony.

Senators Juan Edgardo Angara and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV are also expected to grace the opening activity and deliver separate messages.

The election will be held tonight with Bayugan City Councilor Kirk Asis, Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, and Bataan PB Member Ares Gaza vying for the national president.

Cebu PB Member Miguel Antonio Magpale is running unopposed for vice president for the Visayas.

Magpale is running under the group of Asis, incumbent regional chairman of NMYL Caraga Region, who has the backing of around 90 members in Cebu.

NMYL past presidents who will give their solidarity messages during the oath taking of newly-elected officers tomorrow evening include Senator Francis Pangilinan, Postmaster General Josie dela Cruz, Marikina City Mayor Del de Guzman, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Quezon City Councilor Julian ML Coseteng and Alicia, Isabela Mayor Cecilia Claire Reyes. — (FREEMAN)