ELEVEN LOCAL LEGISLATORS RECOGNIZED BY YOUTH AGENCY

The beautiful beaches of Boracay bore witness to the first ever awarding of the Kampeon ng Kabataan, a project of the National Youth Commission and the National Movement of Young Legislators to recognize local legislators for their valuable support to youth development initiatives through the passing of ordinances that had significant impact to the youth in their localities.

The awarding was held at the beachfront of the Boracay Regency Hotel on 29 March 2006, with Secretary Eduardo Ermita as guest of honor. The awarding coincided with the official opening of the 15 th National Congress of the NMYL, and was witnessed by about a thousand young local legislators from all regions of the country.

The following afternoon, 30 March 2006, the Kampeon ng Kabataan winners were featured in a forum for some of the NMYL delegates. The awardees were given the chance to speak to these local legislators and impart their ideas on youth empowerment and how they were able to come up with their ordinances.

NYC Chairman Richard Alvin Nalupta, who was also the former Sangguniang Kabataan National Federation President, conceptualized the Kampeon ng Kabataan Awards. It seeks to recognize local legislators from among the ranks of the NMYL to the more seasoned legislative stalwarts who painstakingly devoted their time and effort in drafting, filing, and sponsoring legislations to propagate youth rights and welfare at the local level as well as to enhance youth development.

The Kampeon ng Kabataan awards also aims to provide a vehicle in documenting good practices enhancing youth development and to replicate these practices in other communities nationwide.

The Kampeon ng Kabataan Awards is NYC's humble tribute to the indefatigable men and women in the local government units who braved the undercurrents of mediocrity and whose conviction and unwavering determination as youth champions made a lot of difference as exemplars of good governance.

Following is the list of the awarded local legislators and the notable ordinances that they authored or sponsored:

1. NORIEL R. BERNALES, Municipal Councilor, Nabua, Camarines Sur

"  Ordinance adopting a Comprehensive Youth Development Program

"  Ordinance establishing the Nabua Municipal Vocational School

2. ATTY. MILA PERPETUA CATABAY-LAUIGAN, Board Member, 3 rd District, Province of Cagayan

"  Comprehensive Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Program (CYEEP) - seeks to empower the youth to be economically self sufficient by nurturing them into becoming job providers instead of job seekers.

3. BRUCE A. COLAO, Vice Mayor, Muncipality of Lugait, Misamis Oriental

"  Ordinance establishing the Lugait Library, Archive and Information Center for the youth

"  Ordinance establishing the Municipal Technical Educational and Skills Development Program

"  Ordinance establishing a Scholarship program for the Poor but deserving students

"  Anti Smoking Ordinance

4. ATTY. JOSE ROMEO S. DELA CRUZ, City Councilor, Santiago City , Isabela

"  Ordinance prohibiting the sale, dispense and delivery of cigarettes and other similar tobacco products to minors in Santiago City

"  Ordinance establishing the Santiago City Educational Loan Fund

"  Ordinance setting curfew hours for minors

"  The Anti-Youth Mendicancy Ordinance of Santiago City

5. SENEN C. LLOREN, Municipal Councilor, Jagna, Bohol

"  Ordinance creating the “Jagna Code for Children”

"  Ordinance penalizing domestic offender and providing protection measures to the victim

"  Ordinance prohibiting commercial stores to sell “rugby “to minors

"  Ordinance that provide curfew hours for minors

"  Ordinance implementing the Anti-Trafficking of Persons

6. SHIRLYN MACASARTE-ESPUELAS, Board Member, 1 st District, Province of Cotabato

"  Ordinance establishing the Child and Youth Welfare Code of Cotabato Province

7. SOPHIA MARIE G. PAGTAKHAN, SK Provincial Federation President, Ex-Officio Board Member, Province of Cavite

"  Ordinance creating the Cavite Youth Development Council

"  Ordinance establishing a Youth Information desk in all barangays within the territorial jurisdiction of Cavite

"  Ordinance creating the Cavite Association of Youth Organizations (CAYO) as the umbrella organization of all youth organizations in the province of Cavite

"  Ordinance banning display of lewd video shots in commercial videoke-karaoke system in various areas within Cavite and with corresponding penalties.

8. SHIERWIN H. TAAY, Board Member, Province of Aurora

"  Ordinance establishing the Provincial Youth Development Council in Aurora

"  Ordinance institutionalizing the Araw ng Kawani and Family Week.

9. GODOFREDA O.TIROL, Board Member, 3 rd District, Province of Bohol

"  Ordinance creating the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage Council

"  Ordinance creating and organizing the Center for Culture and Arts Development in the province of Bohol

"  Ordinance creating the Bohol Children's Code

10. PIO ANTONIO M. BORREL, Municipal Councilor, Capoocan, Leyte

DANIEL M. MADRIAGA, SK Municipal Federation President, Capoocan, Leyte

"  Youth Welfare and Development Code of Capoocan, Leyte