OPOL, Misamis Oriental (PIA)--As part of their response to the coronavirus  disease (COVID)-19 pandemic, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Barangay Malanang, Opol strengthened their programs and advocacies to not only engage the youth but also to provide capacity building opportunities for the social, environmental, and economic recovery in their community.

Barangay Malanang, Opol, SK Chairman Valdexter Salomon said during the Network Briefing News with Communications Sec. Martin Andanar, July 6, the SK council during the onset of the pandemic volunteered in their community checkpoints, COVID-19 control points, and assisted in the distribution of face masks.

With the launching of their “Clean and Green” program, Barangay Malanang SK urged each household in their community to segregate and recycle their garbage, alongside clean-up drives in their area to soften the environmental impact of the province’s stay at home campaign in adherence to community quarantine protocols.

In addition, their “Zonal Youth Community” gardening initiative also aimed to bring in agricultural learning and food security in their area wherein they foster and encourage self-sustaining backyard vegetable and fruit cultivation in community soil.

“Paparating na din 'yung Linggo ng Kabataan ngayong Agosto. Plano po namin magbigay ng cash assistance sa mga outstanding college students,” he said.

(We are celebrating the “Linggo ng Kabataan'' this coming August. We’re planning on giving away cash assistance to our outstanding college students.)

As for the vaccination campaign, Salomon said they are working alongside their Municipal Health Office (MHO) to counter fake news and misinformation, especially with the youth in their area to which he attributes the warm disposition towards the campaign in his community. (Vincent Philip S. Bautista/PIA-10)