Youth Converge for Cebu City’s Progress

(Cebu City PIO) — At least two hundred young leaders from various sectors here showed their unity and gathered for the 3rd Cebu City Youth Congress (CCYC) held last March 17-18, 2015 at the Grand Hall, 8th floor of Hotel Fortuna, along Borromeo Street, this city.

Bearing the theme, “Answering the challenges of the Youth towards a Progressive Cebu City,” the two-day congress featured sessions and interactive discussions on issues affecting the youth and integrated with activities that linked fun, learning and values in leadership.

With its commitment to make this Queen City of the Philippines as a community of young servant leaders, the Cebu City Government led by Mayor Michael L Rama through its Cebu City Youth Development Commission (CCYDC) hosted the congress.

In an interview with the BARUGG News, CCYDC executive director Jocelyn Briones-Avila shared that the congress aims to create a comprehensive local youth development plan and a youth situationer.

“We gather the ideas of the participants to know the issues and concerns of the youth that will be used for a local youth development plan and a youth situationer,” Avila further underscored, adding that they have identified youth concerns more on Family, Financial, Education and Health, among others.

Asked for her message to the youth in Cebu City specially to the participants of the congress, Avila stressed that, “I hope they get involve on various activities of the youth, and to apply what they have learned from the congress.”

Fritchie Telebangco, from Barangay Santa Cruz, who was one of the participants of the congress has shared that he is thankful to the Cebu City Government for having programs for the youth sector.

“The congress is a good opportunity for the youth in Cebu City to broaden our outlook in life, to have a discipline, and to be responsible individuals as future leaders and stay away from the vices and bad elements,” Telebangco pointed out hoping that there will be more congress and youth empowerment activities to come.

Meanwhile, the youth development program is a project of Mayor Rama who is guided by a mission to bring back the hope of the youth and the children to trust the government through quick and quality services with accountability, responsibility and transparency.

The mayor was attending the 3rd United Nation’s World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held at the Sendai International Center, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, in Japan during the congress.

At least Six Cebu City Councilors graced the CCYC which included CCYDC Commissioners Sisinio Andales, Alvin Dizon, and Eugenio Gabuya. Other City Councilors who dropped by during the activity were Margarita Osmeña, Gerry Carillo and Mary Ann Delos Santos.

The event was made possible through the continued efforts of the Cebu City Government, CCYDC Commissioners, management and staff, Cebu City Federation of Supreme Student Governments and Councils, Gender and Development (GAD) Focals from the city’s eighty villages, and the all out support of everyone concerned.

Looking back the First CCYC was conducted on August 12, 2011 at the Cebu Business Hotel with the theme, “Advancing the Cebu City Youth and People’s Agenda for 2011 and Beyond,” while the Second CCYC was held last December 19-20, 2013 at the Grand Ballroom of the Cebu Grand Hotel with the theme, “Exploring Opportunities, Breaking Boundaries.” (Cebu City Public Information Office PIO/Greggy Jiggs P. Senados)