PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN (PIA) -- Some 38 elected youth officials of the Apuradong Kabataan ng Puerto Princesa (AKAPP) started their immersion as junior city government officials and department heads in line with the Youth Festival this August.

The immersion program for the daily operations and tasks in the city government will run from August 14 to August 31.

City Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation President and Councilor Myka Mabelle Magbanua said that this is the third batch of the AKAPP to undergo the immersion and will be exposed to the daily tasks of officials. The elected officials who took their oaths during the flag ceremony on August 14 will be the counterparts of the City Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilors, and Department Heads.

"We have already dispensed them sa lahat ng mga opisina at inaasahan natin na magsisimula na ang kanilang immersion. They have daily journals na kailangan nila sagutan at iri-report before their final recognition rites," she said.

Participants are also required to attend some of the major activities of the ongoing Puerto Princesa City Youth Festival. The first batch of AKAPP training was held in 2021, but participants were not able to personally engage with the government offices due to health restrictions.

Magbanua observed that this year’s batch has more participants than those registered in 2022.

The process of selecting participants involves a qualifying examination and interview. Participants will undergo another examination before their graduation from the program to see if there are improvements after their immersion.

"This time ay mas mahaba siya, one week for training and other activities, then more than two weeks for the immersion talaga sa offices. This time ay mas marami sila kasi may department heads na marami. We are eyeing next year na pati program managers ay meron na," she said.

Magbanua plans to recommend having counterparts for the program managers and national government agencies in the next batch of AKAPP. (RPG/PIA MIMAROPA - Palawan)