Ormoc youth join fight vs climate change

ORMOC CITY, Philippines  — Representatives of different national and local youth organizations and school-based associations expressed their desire to have a voice in the fight against climate change effects and to contribute in disaster risk reduction.

In a manifesto signed during a forum on creating a disaster resilient and empowered youth held on September 7, they requested the city government of Ormoc and other development partners for a seat in the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, allocation in the city’s annual investment plan  for youth-oriented disaster activities like the conduct of annual DRR youth camp and jamboree, preparation of youth action plan, policy support to student-led school watching and hazard mapping activity, and organizing youth leaders as DRR volunteers.

They also requested that their identified problems and concerns during the forum be included in the refinement of the city’s five-year disaster risk reduction and management plan, the local climate change adaptation, and the comprehensive development plan.

Other requests are the provision of youth-friendly spaces during humanitarian response and livelihood support in the recovery and rehabilitation period.

Affixing their signatures are youth from KANA 3k Out of School Youth, 4-H Club, Agyla, LAYA, ECLIPSE-INIGMATA, MLKB, RCY, GSP and student organizations from different schools.

The participants were inspired to produce the document during the UNDP- sponsored event when both Mayor Edward Codilla and UNDP area coordinator Dario Cubelo rallied them to act as future community leaders.

“We need to train, prepare and equip ourselves with all the knowledge, skills and the right attitude to ready ourselves for calamities and disasters”, the Codilla said.

Cubelo, for his part, told the youth: “The United Nations Development Programme prioritizes the youth because you will be our future leaders. You should live by it (things learned in the forum) day by day – not just talking about it. Hope that you can start an activity.”

As an offshoot, a Confederation of Youth Leaders of Ormoc City was likewise organized with the following elected officers for 2015: President – Charie Ando (LAYA); Vice President - Walter James Jumao-as (New Ormoc City National High School); Secretary - Jasmin Joy De La Cruz (3K) and PIOs - Geneveve Baise (3K) and Ana Laurente (Red Cross Youth).

Resource persons POPCOM-8 director Elnora Pulma, City Councilor Pedro Godiardo Ebcas, Ana Liezel Villaver of DepEd and Ciriaco Tolibao of DRRMO took turns in imparting their respective expertise in disaster risk reduction in relation to the youth sector.

UNDP project officer Roy Dimayuga and city government employee Jun Gallo headed the coordinated efforts for the staging of the event.  (FREEMAN)