NYC calls youth: “Be heard” at 7th NYP Davao, Oct 19-22
NATIONAL leaders expect new advocates for the country’s youth and its development issues as the National Youth Commission (NYC) holds its 7th National Youth Parliament (NYP) in Davao City this October 19-22, 2008.
And as NYC announces this, it also calls for participant delegates, youth aged 15-30 years old and representing organizations from around the country, NYC commissioner for the Visayas, Benjie Oliva says.
Qualified to join are Filipinos between 15 to 30 years old with at least 6 months of residency at the place or institution he is representing. He should also be a youth organization officer in school, community including Sangguniang Kabataan, civic, religious, professional or tribal group, a non-member to any previous NYPs and must not have been convicted of any crime.
Delegates are also asked to prepare and submit their position paper in one of the following topics: Youth Values and Good Citizenship, Youth Community Involvement/ Engagement, Youth Participation in Governance, Violence in Youth Organizations, Youth Lifestyles, Peace building, and Specific Youth Groups Issues (Juvenile Justice and substance abuse).
With the upcoming event, the NYC expects some 200 youth leaders representing organizations with position on issues, he adds.
Commissioner Oliva was Chairperson of the 6th National Youth Parliament held in Bohol last October 2006.
The NYP theme this year adopts “Unity in Diversity: An Intercultural and Interfaith Parliament” and seeks to train its elected officers on leadership and advocacy immediately after the gab.
According to NYC Commissioner Benjie Oliva, the NYP also aims to empower the youth in effectively advocating, lobbying and influencing the policy makers in creating a policy environment supportive of the total development of the young people.
The NYC is mandated by Republic Act 8044 to convene the NYP every two years. The Parliament serves as a venue for policy discussions to formulate resolutions that will be presented to the NYC, and later on be advocated to policy makers.
The NYC have always partnered with the former NYP delegates not only in promoting and implementing youth programs and projects, but also in advocating for youth issues, Oliva stressed.
The 6th NYP batch has even organized themselves into a confederation of youth advocates, Oliva boasted.
The NYC shoulders the food and accommodation of applicants, he said while explaining that application forms are downloadable at the NYC website: www.nyc.gov.ph, or can be obtained from the NYC office.
Applications are to be sent to the NYP Secretariat, National Youth Commission, 4th Floor Bookman Building, Quezon Avenue, Banawe, Quezon City on or before June 30, 2008. For queries, call the NYP Secretariat at (02) 749-9404 or 7812373. (rachiu/PIA)
