From the 17 barangays of Loreto, Agusan del Sur, 69 young leaders from Indigenous Peoples communities completed a three-day municipal-wide Youth Leadership Summit that ended on March 5.
The activity was in collaboration between the Loreto municipal government, the 60th Infantry Battalion, the Youth for Peace Movement- Tanang Lihok Batan-on og Sundalo (YFPM-TALBOS), and Propelling Our Inherited Nation Through Our Youth Incorporated (POINTY Inc.).
Second Lt. Alexelle Joyce Quijano, Civil-Military Operations officer of the 60th Infantry Battalion, highlighted that the summit aimed to bring out the limitless potential of the youth emphasizing their role as future leaders of their communities.
“The participants underwent a series of lectures, interactive challenges, and other team-building activities that developed their camaraderie, teamwork, and their sense of leadership,” Quijano said.
The lectures included Anti-insurgency, Youth Infiltration and NFA recruitment, Drug Prevention, the Role of the Youth in Nation Building, Safety Awareness, and Knowing One’s Self. The topics were complemented by interactive challenges and team-building activities such as Guidon Making, Spiritual Session followed by a Bonfire activity, Poster Making, Chanting Competition, Morning Zumba, Alay Linis, Hunt for breakfast (Obstacle course), and the Kultura Night.
In his message, Lt. Col. Merrill C Sumalinog, commanding officer of the military unit, expressed his appreciation for the intensified collaboration and support of the municipal government and other government agencies, the youth sector and the military as he urged the young leaders to continue advocating peace in their respective communities and inspiring their fellow youth to take part in the advocacy being led by their kind.
Mary Nol P. Aban, municipal government operations officer of Loreto, also expressed her gratitude for the enthusiasm of the facilitators from the organizing groups.
Ablan also assured the participants and facilitators that the municipal government will continue to support the initiative.
The youth leaders also signed the Pledge of Commitment to the Youth For Peace Movement and POINTY- Agusan del Sur which closed the activity.
