BONTOC, Mountain Province – Five Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Councils of this municipality were recognized by the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) for their outstanding performance in governance, thereby raising the bar of excellence among the youth sector.
In 2020, the Sangguniang Bayan passed Ordinance No. No. 322, s. 2020 institutionalizing the search known as “Gawad Sa Huwarang Pamamahala ng Kabataan Award” which is geared on promoting and practicing the principles of good youth governance in the barangay.
With the first year of implementation of the ordinance, the SK Council of Samoki under the leadership of Anton Zaren Nasungan was adjudged as the winner in the “Gawad Sa Huwarang Pamamahala ng Kabataan Award”. As the champion, the Samoki SK Council received a cash prize of P30, 000 and a Plaque of Recognition from the Bontoc LGU during the regular Monday Flag Raising Ceremony on December 13, 2021, at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol grounds.
Bontoc Ili SK Council led by its Chairperson Michael Angelo Kiat-ong came in 2nd place and received a cash prize of P20, 000 and a Plaque of Recognition.
As the 3rd place, Bayyo SK Council led by Melody Gaston was awarded a cash prize of P10, 000 and a Plaque of Recognition.
Also, Plaques of Recognition were given to Mainit and Dalican SK Councils who landed in 4th and 5th places, respectively. The SK Chairperson of Mainit is Evayan Chaloyen while the SK Chairperson of Dalican is Sherwin Chamkas.
The criteria in the selection of winners in the search include leadership, management, creativeness and innovativeness, integrity, transparency, accountability, and ethics and values.
Member of the committee that screened and validated the entries are the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Municipal Budget Officer, Municipal Accountant, Municipal Health Officer, Municipal Local Youth Development Officer, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer, Sangguniang Bayan Chairperson on Youth Affairs and the Administrative Officer V of the Office of the Municipal Mayor.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey lauded the awardees for their efforts in coming up with programs and projects that helped their respective barangays.
“You have given your time and effort to serve the public, our kakailyan without expecting anything in return. I urge you to stay true to your commitment and to keep in your hearts and mind the spirit of volunteerism regardless if you are compensated or not, as long as it is good for the youth development and the community as a whole, “ Odsey added.
Likewise, he commended and thanked the SK councils for all their help and assistance for more than one year of the pandemic.
“I am delighted that some SK in Bontoc came up with activities to ensure active participation of the youth even if we are under series of community quarantine. You have recognized the mental health needs of the youth especially of adjustment everyone has to make while we are under any form of community quarantine. You have initiated activities that respond to the needs of your fellow youths and rightly appropriated your SK funds, “the mayor mentioned.
With this, he expressed high hopes that the recognition received by the awardees would motivate the other SK councils to do the same.
The “Gawad Sa Huwarang Pamamahala ng Kabataan Award” aimed to recognize deserving SK which have demonstrated exemplary performance of their duties and functions that greatly contributed to the achievement of sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development in their respective communities. It is a continuing commitment of the SK to continually improve their performance.
Also, the “Gawad Sa Huwarang Pamamahala ng Kabataan Award” shall serve as a monitoring and evaluation mechanism on policy compliance of the Sangguniang Kabataan.
The ordinance was sponsored by Municipal SK Federation President Sherwin Chamkas.
By Alpine L. Killa