DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Dec. 9 (PIA) -- Some 42 youths from 12 barangays of Canlaon City participated in the three-day Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) to commit for peace and unity in their respective barangays.

Dubbed as “BULKAN or Batan-on, Unang Laraw sa Kalinaw sa Atong Nasud,” the youth gathered at Masulog National High School, Canlaon City on Dec. 2 to 4.

In partnership with the with Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion and other agencies, the Canlaon City Task Force-End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) conducted the summit to develop a sense of leadership and promote amity among the youth for them to become prime movers in peace-building, and commitment to serve the country without sacrificing their security and their future.

The activity centered on leadership empowerment, awakening to discover oneself, family and community, values, culture and traditions, and to empower the youth as advocates and conduits of peace and development.

The participants also learned about environmental protection, drug addiction and prevention, emergency response, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, and the communist terrorist group’s deception and lies.

Elected YLS class president, Kylha Carondoy said “this will be another step for us, a new beginning to make a change for a better world with peace and unity because a new chapter and a new beginning sometimes does not mean about your birthday but it is a chance to change and start your life for the challenges ahead.” (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from the Philippine Army)