COTABATO CITY – In line with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s goal of promoting peace, the ARMM Coordinating and Development Office on Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (CDO-BYA) launched its ARMM Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) program.
Isa Tom Del Monte, CDO-BYA executive director, said the program is “one way of recognizing the works of the youth in ARMM.” It underscores the role of the youth in nation-building and in the achievement of genuine peace in the region, he added.
The program was patterned after the Search for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations of the Philippines organized by the TAYO Awards Foundation, Inc., in partnership with the National Youth Commission recognizes, rewards, and encourages youth organizations with programs and projects that help their respective communities.
The projects and programs must be under five categories namely: education and technology; environment, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation; health, nutrition and well-being; livelihood and entrepreneurship; and culture and the arts, peace and human development.
Del Monte said that the ARMM TAYO will focus on the peace and development category because it is the most relevant issue in the region. “Peace is a sign of development and prosperity. It is essential in every youth to bear in mind the importance of peace towards development,” said Del Monte.
The program is open to organizations in ARMM with an ongoing, or recently concluded, project. Organizations must have at least 15 youth members who are 15-30 years of age and must be registered in any of the following line agencies: CDO-BYA, Cooperative Development Agency, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Trade and Industry.
The winning organizations will receive a trophy and a cash grant each to fund new projects or continue long-term programs. Entry forms may be downloaded at www.cdobya.armm.gov.ph. Deadline for the submission of entries is on October 31, 2015.
The ARMM-TAYO was launched on September 10 at the Office of the Regional Government compound in Cotabato City during the celebration of the first Youth Peace Day in the region. (Bureau of Public Information)
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