A TOTAL of 350 youths from different towns of Zamboanga del Norte have participated in the two-day Youth Leadership Summit-Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines (YLS-PYAP) and encampment at the headquarters of the 97th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Del Pilar, Piñan.
The two-day activity, which was held last week, was anchored on the theme “Live His Life and Do His Work for Others.” The activity was headed by Dr. Jose Mante, Zamboanga del Norte Provincial social welfare and development officer (PSWDO).
Lieutenant Colonel Nolasco Coderos, Jr., 97IB commander, said in a statement Tuesday, October 18, 2022, that one of the objectives of the two-day activity is to empower the youth through leadership training, to transform and development them into an active partners of government in peace-building and development initiatives.
Coderos said the activity also aims to promote awareness of issued and protect them from manipulation and recruitment of the communist terrorist groups and other left-affiliated organizations.
“We will help this group of young individuals uplifts their awareness on their roles in national-building. We will also inculcate the virtues of patriotism and nationalism as well as insulate them from being radical and NPA (New People’s Army) recruitment,” Coderos said.
One of the highlights of the activity was the testimonies of three former NPA rebels, known as Friends Rescued, who surrendered to the 97IB.
They disclosed their life stories as victims of the deceptive recruitment of the NPAs.
Coderos said that other subject matter experts from PSWDO also imparted information on early teenage pregnancy and cyber security.
It was followed by workshops and team-building activities that develop camaraderie among the youth participants.
During the activity, Lawyer Catherine Velasco, give inspirational message in behalf of Zamboanga del Norte Governor Rosalina Jalosjos.
At the end of the activity, all youth participants received certificates of participation for actively joining the Zamboanga del Norte YLS-PYAP and encampment.
The two-day activity was jointly initiated by the 97IB, PSWDO, and Alpha Company of the 1st Civil-Military Operations Battalion. (SunStar Zamboanga)