Youth groups in Navotas will soon be able to propose directly to councilors projects to help resolve pressing issues affecting them.
Earlier, the city government called on youth organizations to attend budget deliberations later this year where youth-focused programs would be tackled.
Youth congress
Mayor John Reynald Tiangco explained that this was the result of a recently concluded youth congress which was attended by 12 recognized youth and youth-serving groups that were school-based or from the religious sector, among others.
“The congress was organized to encourage the participation of the youth in planning programs intended for their welfare and development,” Tiangco said.
“It will also educate and mold the participants’ optimism toward a progressive city through continuous collective efforts between the city government and its constituents,” he added.
During the congress, representatives of the youth groups voiced out concerns and issues affecting the city’s youth such as teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency and job and scholarship opportunities.
Program proposals
After identifying the problems, the groups were told to present programs which could help resolve these issues.
Among the programs proposed were capacity-building seminar-workshops to develop skills, a citywide youth volunteering program and scholarship and employment assistance.
Tiangco said that representatives from each of the youth groups would then present these programs to the city council during budget deliberations later this year so that the programs can be given funds for implementation in the future.