By Sam Ramos
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has launched the 1st Mindanao Youth Convergence (MYC), aimed at “equipping youth leaders with the knowledge and skills to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience across the region.”
Held on Wednesday, the two-day forum gathered around 200 youth leaders from various organizations. The event seeks to create a volunteer base for the planned Mindanao Disaster Resiliency Resource Center (MDRRC), envisioned as a hub for disaster knowledge and preparedness.
MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno underscored the importance of involving young leaders in disaster resilience efforts, highlighting their potential to contribute to nation-building and sustainable development in Mindanao.
“The important thing here is the recognition of the youth’s ability. We will not allow them to be disregarded because soon, they will lead the nation-building,” Magno said during a press briefing.
Magno emphasized the youth’s role in implementing initiatives like the Mindanao Agenda, the Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP) 2023-2028, and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas vision. He noted that Mindanao’s increasing vulnerability to disasters necessitates the establishment of the MDRRC.
A memorandum of cooperation was signed during the event between the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) to institutionalize the MYC as a platform for youth engagement and participatory decision-making.
Assistant Secretary Hernando Caraig Jr., the OCD Deputy Administrator for Strategic and Special Concerns, pledged their commitment to developing regional training programs for the youth in partnership with MinDA.
“With the current partnership, we will schedule a capacity-building program specifically for the youth by region. Rest assured, we will help and support the initiative of MinDA,” Caraig said.
BSP secretary-general Kim Robert de Leon echoed the commitment to enhancing youth training, promising to collaborate with the OCD to develop integrated training modules and broaden the reach of disaster resilience programs.
“Through MinDA’s facilitation, we can create a multiplier effect to reach more youth across Mindanao,” de Leon said.