DILG Director Encourages Convergence Among DavOr Youth

04 Jun 2019Youth

BY Van Jorain Rufin


DAVAO ORIENTAL – During the recent Sangguniang Kabataan Provincial Federation and Local Youth Development Council Joint Meeting recently held at Grand Conference Room Capitol Building, Outgoing Provincial Director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Yvette Tolentino-Sunga, CESO V, highlighted ‘convergence’ and ‘meeting of minds’ as golden keys to successfully produce issue-based programs, projects, and activities for the youth sector.

Attended by SK Municipals and City Federation Presidents and Focal Leaders of recognized Youth Organizations in the province with Provincial Local Youth Development Officer Ms. Jay O. Dayanghirang, Director Sunga reminded the youth listen to constructive criticisms and open to suggestions.

“Learn to be more appreciative,” Director Sunga encouraged the participants to appreciate comments and suggestions because it is a way of improving not just the proposed activities but also ‘towards yourself as a person’ in order to become a firm leader on their respective communities and organizations.

Director Sunga, the outgoing Provincial Director of Department of the Interior and Local Government Davao Oriental Field Office and now the Assistant Regional Director of DILG Region X also cited various government agenda as possible foundation of youth-led programs like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 2030, Philippine Government’s Ambisyon Natin 2040 and the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental’s Development Framework Plan. She furthered that youth leaders should anchor all their programs to some of these goals to complement with stakeholders both on the field and on the implementation with specified targets.

Director Sunga encouraged all young leaders to ensure that their endeavors must be well-coordinated to their respective local chief executives, government agencies, private stakeholders and the beneficiaries because “you are leaving a legacy” that’s why it needs “meeting of minds” first before implementation. She added that youth leaders today must think more of results, development and be impact-oriented.

“I commend the Peace Camp of Youth for Peace Movement Davao Oriental as it rides along with the Provincial Government, Armed Forces of the Philippines and DILG’s thrusts in peace and order agenda,” said Director Sunga as she also cited the organization’s continuing programs in the grassroots like community outreach programs in the Geographically Isolated and Displaced Areas (GIDA) with the Sangguniang Kabataan Officers on the ground, their counterpart activities to the Presidential Executive Order 70 that calls for the whole-of-the-nation approach in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict, and their contribution to the implementation of Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) through the add-on Bal’lay Duwaan Project at Happy Home.

On the other hand, the joint meeting was called by the SK Provincial Federation President Honorable Ronald T. Lara, Jr. to discuss the proposed activities for 52nd Founding Anniversary of Davao Oriental to be hosted by the Local Youth Development Office with SK like “Pop Dance” Competition, and other proposed programs to be conducted jointly by the federation and council like Luntian Awards, Adopt-a-school Program and the 2019 Davao Oriental Youth Congress. Photos by Van Jorain Rufin