Saturday, June 16, 2007 N. Occidental to host national youth confab By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
HUNDREDS of young people from all over country will converge here in Negros Occidental for the First National PYAP (Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines) Development Summit” to be held at the Pana-ad Sports and Recreational Park on October 8 to 10.
The three-day affair will be hosted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and PYAP, a barangay-based out-of-school youth organization.
Provincial DSWD youth coordinator Melvin Purisima said, “Being the best in 2006, PYAP unquestionably chose Negros Occidental as the first host of the first PYAP Development Summit.”
The event will be themed: “Kabataan Likas na Yaman, Ating Pahalagahan, Tungo sa Mauunlad na Bayan.” It will focus more in defining issues, concerns, thrusts and directions of PYAP comprising portion on business matters.
The summit’s program will also be highlighted by various intellectual, literary and artistic skills contests, indigenous regional dances, educational tours and various athletic exercises, Purisima said.
“The three-day summit is aptly designed to give out of school youth spaces to discuss and unwind,” Purisima said.
Among the programs, which made Negros Occidental won the top award last year, was the Provincial DSWD Tesda-Based computer schools established in Sagay, Talisay, Bago, and Cauayan.
These are “actual structures” built purposely for the out-of-school youth jointly built by the Engineers Without Borders of Canada and DSWD.
Other programs include the Tesda accredited hotel and restaurant servicing course and Department of Labor and Employment-based courses that are offered for one month only, Purisima said.
“In a month’s time, restaurants and other private establishments will accept these graduates for their practicum. Eventually, those who perform well are will be absorbed for permanent employment,” he said.
Other than skills training, these out-of-school youth are also trained “positive life skills” and “issues oriented and other practical skills lectures,” Purisima added.
