Of Policies and Parties
by Mary Antoinette M. Magallanes
‘YOLO’ – an acronym which means ‘You Only Live Once’; to ‘YOLO’ means to party, to go on an adventure or take on a risk for the sake of having fun and living the fullest of life. Nowadays, YOLO has been closely associated with the youth.
In this generation, in-school or out-of-school, the youth has been branded with a negative image. Most often than not, the youth are portrayed as negligent, rash and irresponsible people. Evidently, a large number of the city’s youth have never left the scene of dashing parties and fun events. However, will they be stuck in that realm? Will the youth still be visible in the face of social issues, pressing topics, and lobbying policies? Will the youth of today be able to transcend from going to rave parties to actually making policies?
Not much bearing
The constant strife of purples and yellows; the endless accusations against people in position; unending debate on political issues; relentless party-political disputes – waking up or sleeping to news such as these has become a routine for most Kagay-anons.
As we can see, pervasive corruption, mismanagement in the government and political disputes has been a constant nightmare in the country, even down to the city level. As part of this negative trend and a growing desire in achieving genuine democracy, the constant push for citizen – especially youth – participation has gained utmost significance over the years.
Based on the 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH), Cagayan de Oro City has posted a population of 602,088 persons as of May 1, 2010; larger by 140,211 persons compared to its total population in the 2000 CPH. Around 180,000 of this population comprise of the Youth or those in the 15-30 years old age bracket.
However, even with a relatively large number of youth in the city, their dispersed efforts and participation have not actually been realized in a bigger context. Most often than not, youth programs revolve around organizing events and projects that usually produces short-lived impact.
Aside from the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), which is suspended as of the moment, other systematic and lawful means to maximize the role and involvement of the youth has not been put into top priority.
Birth of a new movement
In response to emend the culture of corruption through the active involvement of the youth, a coalition of concerned citizens crafted a people’s agenda, which highlighted the importance of youth engagement in governance.
Despite several youth organizations sprouting like mushrooms in the city, though nonetheless significant, these groups have made less impact on a city-wide scale. Observably, what lacks in the city is a central governing mechanism that will unite the other existing barangay-level youth groups in the locality.
With this, 1Ernesto Neri and Jared Lastimoso, fourth year Law students of Xavier University, spearheaded the proposal of crafting an organization that yearns to encourage the youth to participate in the governing process and civil engagement in the community.
“There should be a mechanism where ordinary young people can participate in the governance process and account the leaders they elected and that is through a youth council,” says Neri.
After a year of rigid process, came the birth of the Oro Youth Development Council (OYDC).
OYDC is a citizen-led and agenda-based body composed of youth councilors representing six youth sectors namely the in school youth, out of school youth, youth with special needs, faith based youth, youth movements and Moro and IP youth. The Council works to attempt to influence public institutions to be participatory and inclusive through articulating a city youth development agenda and taking part in policy-making.
Starting out as a voter’s education campaign of a coalition named Kagay-anon for Good Governance – Youth (KGG), OYDC was later developed into a concrete and independent organization that aims to engage the youth in the governing process and account the people they have elected into office.
Nature of Executive Orders
The OYDC was formed through an Executive Order signed by Hon. City Mayor Oscar Moreno. Executive Orders are directives issued by the President, a Governor or Mayor. 2Most executive orders are issued under specific statutory authority from Congress and have the force and effect of law. Such executiveorders usually impose sanctions, determine legal rights, limit agency discretion, and require immediate compliance.
In OYDC’s case, the first step in turning a citizen-led initiative into a constitutional order is the presentation of the organization proposal or concept paper. On June 22, 2013, during the Youth and Internally Displaced Persons Forum at Xavier University, KGG proposed the creation of a youth council as the center-piece of the local youth agenda. Welcomed with enthusiasm and openness, Mayor Moreno officially committed to the group’s realization through a signing a 3manifesto on the same day.
A series of meetings and follow-ups were conducted during the subsequent months. Finally, on January 2014, OYDC was referred to the City Social Welfare and Development Office and the National Youth Commission. This paved way for the formal and final arrangement of the Oro Youth Leaders Convergence Summit on March 22, 2014.
To create a definite governing system within the council, an election of officers was held during the said Youth Summit. Around 200 participants from different sectors – government, in-school, out-of-school, community-based, IP’s, etc. – in the city joined the Youth Gathering.
According to Neri, “It [Youth Convergence] was really a gathering of people [from] different social class, the rich, the poor, the in-school and the out-of-school.”
Among them, 17 were chosen as youth councilors representing different sectors while Jared Lastimoso and Ernesto Neri were elected as Vice chairperson and Chairperson, respectively. Each sector also has its own sectoral council composed of one secretary general and four organizational representatives. In sum, the leadership body is composed of 47 individuals but with indefinite number of subordinate members per sector.
However, the formalization of OYDC, or any other Executive Order at that matter, will not be deemed effective until the signing of a formal written document. Thus, thereafter the election, the city government authorized the youth leaders to craft an Executive Order themselves which contains the roles, duties and structure of the council.
Just like any other proposal, OYDC was subjected to months of intense lobbying and careful deliberation by the city officials. Fortunately, May 21, 2014, marked the day that Mayor Moreno affixed his signature on Executive Order 072-14, thus formally constituting the CDO Youth Development Council.
However, similar to other Executive Directives, OYDC still hangs at the brim of its continuation for the coming years as it runs only under an Executive Order and not by an official decree or city ordinance. This entails that the lifeline of the Council is anchored greatly on the office residency of the Mayor.
“Our life [OYDC] is anchored on the Mayor which is a disadvantage,” he adds.
‘Modern Katipuneros’
Over a span of 9 months since its implementation, despite several setbacks, OYDC has already spearheaded different programs and projects for the community. Few of which are the Abot Alam Program, Political Education Program, Youth-led Information Drive and their appeal to the City Council regarding the funds for Farm-to-Market-Roads. They also hold talks and seminars on various social issues.
Even still in its infancy stage, the OYDC has created programs, organized events and pushed advocacies that undeniably benefitted the youth and the locality as a whole. More than that, OYDC has also offered a formal opportunity for the youth to participate and concretely contribute to the strengthening of our public institutions and in the policy-making process.
Among all their projects, the OYDC takes great pride in pushing their newest advocacy and primary legislative agenda: The CDO Youth Code.
The CDO Youth Code is basically a proposed legislation that highlights the obligation of the Barangays in the city in terms of youth development and involvement. It also characterizes the duties, rights and political participation of the youth especially in the governing process in their communities.
“I think this is the first time nga ang youth mismo ang ga create ug conversation. It’s not some politician up there, no one decided for us. This will be our generation’s legacy in the locality”, shared Neri, stressing the importance and role of the youth in governance.
Currently, Barangays 35, 21, Pagatpat, Tablon and Canitoan have adopted the said code. The council hopefully foresees the ratification of the Youth Code in a span of 2-3 years. With these success indicators, it is evident how the OYDC mechanism has really pushed the genuine participation of the youth and sparked their interest in community involvement.
As Jared Lastimosa wrote in his 4blog: “We [the youth] can be the modern Katipuneros; the revolutionaries who will challenge and put pressure to the government. We can be the modern day activists who will challenge the status quo and advocate a comprehensive youth agenda.”
***
“Kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan,” goes the famous saying of Dr. Jose Rizal. This quote has lived through many generations and countless textbooks; a quote that has worn out with time yet nonetheless still promising.
Finally, the change and significant contribution from the youth that the nation aspires for is slowly shedding its striking light. With initiatives like the OYDC, the youth now, and even ordinary citizens, may be able to have an equal chance to take part in the governing process, to take part in accounting the people elected into power and most especially, to be able to make an impact to the society.
References:
“Executive Order 072-14”, https://www.scribd.com/doc/231130089/Office-of-the-City-Mayor-Executive-Order-072-14#scribd
“The Oro Youth Development Council is Born” by Ernesto Neri, http://republikaneri.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-oro-youth-development-council-is.html
“Young and empowered: a model for youth governance” by Ernesto Nero, http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/ispeak/62560-cagayan-oro-youth-empowerment-governance
http://oroyouthcouncil.blogspot.com/
http://www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph/about-cdo/demographic
