COTABATO CITY (February 7, 2023) — The Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) Lanao del Sur with Marawi City conducted its 2nd provincial youth formation on February 5, 2023, at 103rd Infantry (HARIBON), Camp Brigade, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
The program aimed to prepare the participants for leadership roles as responsible citizens and contributing members of their communities, as well as to educate them in Islam, radicalization, and violent extremism. It also aimed to instill in them a sense of cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness, and to empower them to actively engage in addressing pressing issues in their schools and communities once they returned home.
BYC Chairperson Marjanie Macasalong said the creation of the Youth Formation is important in determining how the youth’s future will be shaped in the region.
“During the [Bangsamoro] Basic Law, we worked on how to provide all youth a role because only women filled the position. We pushed harder so that the youth could have a say in the Bangsamoro Transition. They must be allocated a reserved seat in the election in which they already hold one. We must advocate for ourselves. In exchange, we now have the Bangsamoro Youth Commission for the youth,” he added.
Masbud A. Gaima II, Marawi City Director of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, was among the speakers who shared his insights on youth formation.
Also present were 103rd Deputy Brigade Commander BGEN Yegor Rey Barroquillo PA, CO, 12CMOBn Col. Harold V. Sucayre ARM (GSC) PA, LDSPPO PMaj Alinaid S. Moner, BTA Staff Ustadh Yasser I. Abdulrahman, Marawi City Local Youth Development Officer (LYDO) and several member of the Philippine Army.
Meanwhile, the said activity was participated by different youth sectors, accredited youth organizations, Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) and several private institutions.
In order to explore strategies to prevent and counter violent extremism, the Youth Formation plans to bring together Bangsamoro youth from various youth sectors. One such strategy is to implant an Islamic perspective to foster cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness. (BYC PR Unit/SAMN)
