Baguio City will have its youth welfare and empowerment code upon the enactment of an ordinance authored by Councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales.
The proposed ordinance has been approved on first reading by the Baguio City Council.
The ordinance, upon its enactment, shall be called the Youth Welfare and Development Code of Baguio City 2022. The code seeks to provide the youth in the city enabling mechanisms and support systems that create more opportunities to enhance and prioritize their general welfare.
“The city acknowledges the impact of a service-driven leadership and therefore must provide mechanisms to boost strategies in leading the youth in pursuit of greater involvement in public and civic activities,” Orcales wrote in his proposed ordinance.
Orcales stressed that Baguio City, being a “diversity” hub, gives value to the ability of the youth as the “leaders of today and future-shapers of the city.”
He likewise emphasized that it is the mandate of the the city government, through its offices and partners particularly the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) and the City Youth Development Office (CYDO), to encourage the youth to actively participate in the crafting of policies and monitoring of projects for youth empowerment.
“The potential of the youth can be limitless. They only need utmost support and access to platforms and opportunities for them to develop their capabilities to be able to contribute to the progress of the community,” the councilor stated.
The Code consists of 16 articles.
The first article includes the rights of the youth in terms of health, education, economic empowerment, social inclusion and equity, peace-building and security, governance, active citizenship, environment, and sports development. This article also includes the responsibilities of the youth.
The second article is on the youth’s health activities and programs. This contains youth health policies, mental health programs for the youth, city policy on teenage pregnancy, the creation, composition, and roles of the Adolescent and Youth Health Development Council (AYHDC), coordinative mechanism and referral system for youth health and development interventions, and Bonjing e-inquiry system, among others.
The third article is on youth education. This article includes programs and policies upholding the right of every young individual to quality and accessible education. It also includes the creation of programs on youth entrepreneurship and financial capability, gardening and other agricultural skills, equal access to employment and training, and employment opportunities for the youth with disabilities. Furthermore, it ensures the provision of vocational training, employment assistance programs, and livelihood projects for the youth. Under this article, the 4H Club shall also be empowered.
The fourth article is on social inclusion and equity for the youth. This focuses on social awareness programs, training for the out-of-school youth (OSY), interventions for the youth with special needs, gender sensitivity training for the youth, and programs for the Indigenous Peoples (IP) youth.
The fifth article is on peace-building and security. This portion identifies the thrust of the youth in the city which in their participation in the promotion of human security and attainment of overall peace and solidarity in the city. This article zeroes in on anti-prostitution and other sexual abuse programs (Oplan Rizal at Magdalena), prohibition of obscene publications and indecent shows, anti-drug campaigns, the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo (KKDAT), self-defense training, interventions for delinquent youth, special courses for police officers, and management of cases involving youth offenders.
The sixth article is on leadership and governance. This article includes the youth’s right to participate in the city government’s decision-making and provides for capacity building and leadership development. Also, it spells out the composition and roles of the Baguio Youth Parliament (BYP) and the qualifications of its delegates. Furthermore, it prescribes the processes for the conduct of the intensive youth voter’s registration and the empowerment of the SK- Baguo.
The seventh article provides for mechanisms for active citizenship and engagement of the youth. This article also includes culture and arts development programs, outreach programs, youth mini-festivals, youth demonstrations, youth volunteerism, exchange programs, and aid to youth associations.
The eight article is the participation of the youth in promoting the protection and preservation of the environment. This includes youth participation in disaster and risk management and the creation of a youth environment club or organization.
The ninth article is on the participation of the youth in various sports. This includes the conduct of barangay sports fests and youth cups.
Article 10 is on youth empowerment activities such as the annual Linggo ng Kabataan, Youth Leaders and Organizations Awards (YLOA), City Youth Leaders Convergence Summit, and State of the City Youth Address (SOYA).
Article 11 is about the city youth excellence incentive program. It prescribes the qualifications and requirements for the said incentive.
Article 12 is on the empowerment of the City Youth Development Council (CYDC) and Youth Organization Registration. This article spells out the composition and functions of the CYDC and the requirements for the registration and accreditation of youth organizations. It also mandates the creation of the Youth Development Office and designation of its officers and other personnel.
Article 13 is on the City Youth Development Plan (CYDP). Under this article, the CDY-Officer is mandated to regularly conduct an assessment survey for the youth to gather information on matters that the city needs to improve or modify in its CYDP and for data-based policy recalibration purposes. Also, under this article, a city youth profile shall be maintained to determine the population of the youth per category, the number of young people who have attended youth assemblies in the barangays, youth needs and recommendations, number of youth centers, and other data that may be included by the city mayor or the CYDC. This article also contains a provision against age-based discrimination.
Article 14 is on the barangay youth desk/corner/center while Article 15 is on the city youth convergence center and indoor sports complex.
Article 16 contains other important provisions such as the appropriation for the operation of the Baguio City Youth Conference Center and additional financial subsidy to the barangay-based youth centers.
An amount of not less than P3 million shall be appropriated annually for the full implementation of the ordinance. The funding shall come from the annual budget of the CYDO.
The proposed ordinance has been referred to the city council’s Committee on Youth Welfare and Sports Development for review. **Jordan G. Habbiling
