1st Infantry Division praised for supporting youth advocacy, peace efforts in Mindanao

 
PAGADIAN CITY – The Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division continues to draw praises and accolades for its continued support to peace and development efforts, and various youth advocacy in Western Mindanao.

Just this month, the 1st Infantry Division under Brigadier General Gerardo Barrientos Jr., in partnership with the Western Mindanao Command under Lieutenant General Rustico Guerrero, and the National Youth Commission headed by Raymond Domingo, conducted the 1st Regional Youth Forum – Western Mindanao held in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province.

The three-day action planning workshop was participated by youth leaders from the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay Province, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Misamis Occidental. 

Most of them were student council presidents and alumni of the military’s Youth Leadership Summit Program in Western Mindanao.  The facilitators were also alumni of the National Youth Leaders Congress 2014.

Captain Franco Salvador Suelto, facilitator of the NYLC 2014, and head of the Technical Support Team of the Regional Youth Forum, said the event was just the beginning of a series of cascading action planning workshops involving the alumni of YLS and NYLC. 

He said the action planning will also be replicated at the provincial, city and municipal, and even in the villages. “There will be more similar activities in the future that will advocate mobilization of the youth in preparing them to be more socially responsible, peace loving and productive members of the community as well as God-fearing citizens of the country,” he said. “The objective of this activity is to develop the leadership of the youth as preparation for their role in the society and in nation building.”

Barrientos also commended those who attended the forum and lauded the forum, saying, it would help develop and prepare the youth and student sector to become responsible citizens and future leaders. (Mindanao Examiner)