ARAYAT -- The newly-elected Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) president of this town is pushing for a sustainable free education program for the out-of-school youth (OSY) in his jurisdiction.
In an exclusive interview with SunStar Pampanga, Barangay Cupang SK chairman Mark Anthony Mamawan said that education is a basic human right that must be attained by every individual.
However, some are limited from receiving education due to several restrictions, one of which and the very common is financial incapability, Mamawan added.
“It is very saddening that there are many youth who cannot go to school due to poverty. This is a basic right of everybody and I believe the government has a responsibility to provide education to Filipinos. And as an elected representative of the youth, I will do my best to provide what is just for my fellow youth,” he said.
As an incoming ex-officio member of the Municipal Council, Mamawan said he will also be pushing for ordinances and will coordinate with other government agencies to strengthen the implementation of the Alternative Learning System and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-sponsored activities.
Aside from school-based education, Mamawan said that he also believes that learning can also be acquired in other venues, like sports arenas.
He said that he is also eyeing to institutionalize a regular summer sports clinic that will involve and engage youth in healthy and productive sports activities.
“I believe that a summer sports clinic will be of big help for us youth. Such activities will promote physical education and encourage sportsmanship, discipline among youth, and most importantly, excellence for the development of healthy and alert Arayateño youth,” he said.
Mamawan also said that engaging youth in sports activities will prevent them from committing unproductive and illegal activities which may avert them in reaching for their goals.