LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – Better days ahead.
This scenario surely awaits the youngsters of barangay Poblacion North in Lagawe after the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)-backed “Linggo ng Kabataan” (Youth Week). A youth assembly program was successfully conducted recently at the second floor of the Poblacion North Barangay Hall.
Serving as forerunners of change in the village, 27 youthful residents took part in the one-day activity where they shared insights on the vitality of education, the ongoing drive against illegal drugs, ordinances on minors, drinking of liquor and cigarette smoking, solid waste and management program and handling the depression crisis.
The participants, guests and barangay council officials lauded SK chairperson Krizelle Lunag for spearheading the project aimed at fostering better ties among the young and enlightening them on key issues affecting the Philippine society.
“Recognition and demand for the conduct of continuing education of the youth on vital concerns affecting them have been higher than ever,” Ms. Lunag said.
“For our barangay to truly be the best place to live, we must exert all efforts to tap or harness the skills and talents of our youngsters because they have a key role in building better communities,” she added.
Ms. Lunag is a 2016 graduate of Saint Louis University in Baguio City. She took up a social work course. She is also a board passer. Likewise, she is an ex-officio member of the Poblacion North Barangay Council.
“We need to cope with all these challenges in order to ensure our youngsters are transformed into productive and law-abiding members of the society,” Lunag told the ZigZag Weekly.
“I enjoin you all to be mindful of your greatest responsibility- be the duty-bearer and best hope for a better future of our country,” she stressed.
Ms. Lunag, an articulate leader, is eyeing with the assistance of the barangay government the conduct of training programs form development of the intellect, focusing on leadership.
“This is the essence of everything we do or strive for, the greatest thing of all,” she quipped.
The barangay council had said that it shall be fully supportive of the SK’s noteworthy programs, projects and activities.
For his part, Punong Barangay Ericson Inhumang challenged the participants to actively take part in transforming Poblacion North into a bustling village. He also offered all-out support, guidance and prayers for them, who in turn replied affirmatively to his call to take part in the campaign to curb drug abuse, gambling and other vices.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Punong Barangay Inhumang said the welfare of the youth is a priority of the barangay council.
“To ignore and not to respond to their needs, as akey partner of the SK, would put the well-being of the youth sector below the line in the agenda of our barangay council,” he motioned.
“That is absolutely unacceptable,” he emphasized.
Inherent and indispensable in such strong partnership is the fact that the SK should, in the first place, stand on a solid foundation. It must be pointed out no kagawads (councilmen) were even elected here in the last synchronized barangay and SK polls. There were no candidates at all. Yet, here is a vibrant, hardworking, intelligent and dedicated SK head still unable to move forward due to circumstances beyond her control. In short, she can’t even conduct a meeting because there is no quorum at all.
Obviously, it was not about budget woes for now. It is provided by law that 10 percent of barangay annual budget is appropriated for SK fund. There is indeed a problem and it isn’t even of Ms. Lunag’s fault. Seeing the state of growing interest of the young, however, in the well-attended undertaking, Ms. Lunas began entertaining new hopes of finally drawing the much-needed backing of the youth sector to the SK.
The minimum monthly honorarium for the SK chair is Php 600. There is no honorarium for the SK kagawad.
While the minimum monthly honorarium for punong barangay is Php 1,000. The minimum monthly honorarium for Sangguniang Barangay members, barangay secretary, treasurer and SK chair is Php 600.
Ironically, none of the program’s speakers even tackled the matter regarding the SK’s uneasy and precarious status and fate as a result of the indifference of young residents in the last polls. Instead, they opted to play it safe by discussing other matters. Only this scribe, also a speaker in the afternoon session, who took the pains in explaining the situation faced by the SK chieftain and advised them on what to do within the bounds of the law. He described it as “a state of suspended animation.”
“What is the use of a power point presentation, with due respect to an earlier speaker, on garbage and plastic use in Lagawe, when your SK is practically powerless because of this dilemma Ms.Lunag is now facing?,” Mr. Araos queried.
Configured with all the development plans of the barangay government here, the reactivated SK plays an important role in propelling the growth and development of the village where the once functional hospital is also located. The SK head, nonetheless, is targeting to attain a number of objectives during her two-year tenure.
In a written message, Ifugao Global Entrepreneurs Multipurpose Cooperative (IGEMCO) general manager Godfrey Dominong talked about issues confronting the Filipino youth. He cited the need for them to engage in committing themselves to act against the ill-effects of drug abuse and environmental degradation.
“I am encouraging the youth to actively engage in sports and refrain from using illegal drugs. The power of the youth is wielded in a different way now. You’re also stewards of the environment. You’re commitment to safeguard the natural environment of barangay Poblacion North shall have a direct impact through your concrete actions right at your own purok.”
“Thus, demonstrating positive action to solve the garbage problem- for example, by segregating waste materials at home, can go hand-in-hand with social development and environmental protection, a key thrust of the Poblacion North Barangay Council, led by Punong Barangay Ericson Inhumang,” he added.
These days, Ms. Lunag stands out from the rest of her peers in the town’s SK highest echelon because of her readiness and willingness to deal head-on with the other problems of the youth sector such as poverty, juvenile delinquency and teenage pregnancy. During the activity, she endeavored to help the youngsters discern the meaning of a being a leader, especially in these trying times. Moreover, she underscored the need to cultivate and nurture a “strong sense of togetherness” among the participants, a good number of them are college students and K-11 and 12 students in Lagawe.
With Krizelle Lunag, now at the village SK’s helm, there is, indeed, a better life for the young out there due to education- because it is the foundation and key to that future. She is indeed in a position to explain to them convincingly. **By Anthony A. Araos
