KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Some 87 youth representatives from various barangays in Tboli town joined the recently-concluded 1st Tboli Inter-Cultural Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) organized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), LGU Tboli and Tribal Leaders Development Foundation Inc. (TLDFI).
11th Special Forces Company (Riverine) Commanding Officer Cpt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan told Philippine Information Agency on Monday that the recent engagement with the youth discussed the effects of insurgency on a peaceful society and the menace of illegal drugs.
Recognizing their role in nation-building, Cpt. Punsalan said the army continues to engage the younger generation on pressing issues and encourage their participation in fruitful talks about nationalism, patriotism, and culture transformation.
“The leadership summit aims to transform the youth into “peacebuilders” and “catalysts for development” while enhancing their awareness to protect them from deceptions and recruitment by the New People’s Army (NPA) and other lawless elements,”he said.
Punsalan noted that the youth, especially those from "conflict-affected areas" and "geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs)" are more susceptible to the recruitment of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the NPA.
“Ang YLS ay hindi activity ng military lang dahil ito ay isang mekanismo ng ating whole-of-nation approach para matigil na ang pagrerecruit sa ating mga kabataan, lalo na ng ating mga IPs ng mga criminal, teroristang NPA at ibang teroristang grupo, mailayo sa droga at masamang bisyo,” the army official added.
Lecturers from different government agencies, as well as non-government organizations shared topics such as Role of the Youth in Nation Building, Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Responsible Sharing of Information, Social Media Advocacy, Solid Waste Management and First Aid Response.
Meanwhile, LGU Tboli is planning to replicate the activity and make YLS an annual municipal activity to empower the youth to become part of community-building, inculcate positive values and attitude and enhance their leadership potentials. (ORVR)
