TABUK CITY, Kalinga– Bearing the theme “Strengthening the youth sector as future leaders of the community”, around 400 members of the Pag-asa Youth Association (PYA) gathered on May 12-13 for arts and cultural competition and team building for this year’s search for Best Performing PYA.
More than the arts and cultural competition, participants were also given a session on Unlad Kabataan Program (UKP) to make active their respective PYA organization, according to Gideon Wansi, Youth Welfare Program focal person of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
The two-day event hosted by Brgy. Balawag, also aimed to evaluate the accomplishments of PYA organizations while increasing group planning and decision-making among the young, according to Wansi.
Unlike previous youth encampments, which included sports competitions, this year’s CSWDO event focused on Program Review and Evaluation Workshop (PREW) through the presentation of scrapbooks for the best practices of PYA in barangays, as well as team building to keep PYA members united, according to Wansi.
According to the CSWDO staff, only active PYA organizations and those renewed in 2022 were invited.
During the activity, the CSWDO ensured that minimal health and safety requirements were met.
At the end, the top three best performing PYA organizations were Barangay Malin-awa, Naneng and Suyang.
Mayor Darwin Estrañero acknowledged the importance of the youth sector in nation building and has set aside funds for youth-related activities in the city.