BORONGAN CITY (PIA) -- In an interview at the Network Briefing News, SK Federation President Lanie Anacta of this city urges the youth to participate in various activities and programs initiated by the SK officials and LGUs such as the Youth Leadership Summit (YLS).

The youth leadership summit intends to empower the youth to become advocates of peace and promote character base, leadership skills, uplift their awareness of the roles of the youth in nation-building, and inculcate the virtues of patriotism and nationalism.

Anacta said there are nine Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) .

They have conducted four batches of youth leadership summit where the youth are taught different activities to promote peace and development.

This will also prevent them from being recruited by the CPPA-NPA-NDF.

The feedback on the YLS is so positive that for this year, they are targeting to have at least 6 YLS batches for both upland and upstream barangays.

Upstream barangays are those located near the river while upland barangays are those located in the mountains. These are hard-to- reach areas and are vulnerable to NPA recruitment.

The SK Federation President also said they have conducted a voter's education seminar for the youth.

She encouraged them to practice the right to suffrage and after which, some youth rushed to the City Hall to register.

Anacta mentioned that one of the successful programs that she initiated benefitting the youth was the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) which  was a huge help because many were displaced, laid-off from their job in Manila and came home to Borongan.

The TUPAD Program was in partnership with DOLE, granting 465 slots amounting to P1.7 million.

Anacta also intended to hold activities like sports fest, festival of talent, mental health awareness campaign, road safety and driving symposium, basic search and rescue training, and basic first aid training for SKs and youth in Borongan.

She also added that they will be drafting an ordinance called Direkta Ayuda where students, especially college students, in Borongan will receive food allowance and daily expenses.

The SK will be creating a City Sports Development Council that will help the youth be engaged in sports and more productive activities. (NBQ/DTL/PIA Eastern Samar)