COTABATO CITY (August 27, 2024) – Chairperson Marjanie Mimbantas Macasalong of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) has delivered the 5th State of the Bangsamoro Youth Address (SOBYA) presenting the Commission’s accomplishments and critical youth interventions in the next few months.
The address was delivered before hundreds of youth leaders and representatives of ministries and agencies during the regional celebration of the International Youth Day in Cotabato City last week.
Macasalong highlighted in his SOBYA the Commission’s accomplishments in policy-making, collaboration with BARMM ministries, and programs that promote youth participation in governance and decision-making.
Policy-making efforts
Macasalong said that the programs of BYC put the Bangsamoro youth at the center of the policy-making process, making sure that the policies are not only for the youth, but are made by the youth based on their unique needs and aspirations.
He highlighted the participation of youth in region wide consultations for the draft of Bangsamoro Youth Welfare and Development Code, passed bills and resolutions during the previous three cohorts of Bangsamoro Youth Parliament, and the formation of Regional Youth Advisory Council that marks a key milestone in institutionalizing youth participation in governance, among others.
“By placing the youth at the heart of our policy-making process, we ensure that our policies are not just for them, but by them—rooted in their real needs and aspirations,” Macasalong said.
By involving youth in the policy-making process and grounding policies in comprehensive data, Macasalong added, the BYC is ensuring that policies are informed, inclusive, and tailored to the specific needs of the Bangsamoro youth.
BYC has also implemented Ideation Impact Challenge (IIC) in 2023 and 2024, where seed grants totaling to 1.4 million pesos were granted to several groups to conduct seven research projects focusing on the youth.
The research outputs will then be presented to relevant stakeholders to become bases for more responsive interventions.
Critical plans for the youth
BYC has also been implementing programs that aim to generate necessary data sets that will help in data-driven and scientific programming for youth interventions.
Projects under the Special Development Fund (SDF) that include the Positive Peace Project and Youth Empowerment in the SPMS Box that provide responsive intervention to youth in conflict-vulnerable areas in the region, will aim to generate data sets necessary for policy-making.
“While these initiatives are promising, our ultimate goal is to develop policy recommendations addressing the root causes of youth challenges,” Macasalong said.
This year, BYC will conduct the Bangsamoro Youth Assessment Study (BYAS) across the Bangsamoro region to address the absence of disaggregated data, which will guide the creation of future policies and programs for the Bangsamoro youth.
Following the data sets from BYAS, the drafting of Comprehensive Bangsamoro Youth Development Plan (CBYDP) will follow. Macasalong said CBYDP is an evidence-based document that will serve as a strategic guide for youth development in the Bangsamoro region.
The implementation of the both BYAS and CBYDP, Macasalong noted, emphasize the commitment of BYC to evidence-based policymaking.
“By gathering and analyzing disaggregated data, the BYC aims to tailor its programs to the specific needs of the youth, ensuring that future policies are relevant and impactful,” Macasalong added.
More plans for the Bangsamoro youth
During the IYD celebration, a signing of memoranda of agreement and understanding took place between BYC and Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Aquatic Resources (MAFAR), and Save the Children Philippines.
In September this year, BYC will introduce the Bangsamoro Youth Registration and Accreditation Program (BYREAP), a new digital registration and accreditation system for youth organizations, enhancing connectivity and engagement for youth across the Bangsamoro region.
This year’s IYD celebration bears the theme “From Click to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” which highlights the importance of digital access for youth participation in sustainable development.
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim said the path to sustainable development can only be achieved when relevant institutions work hand in hand and embrace technology as a tool for progress.
“This celebration is essential for acknowledging and empowering the youth who represent a significant portion of the population and are crucial to the region’s future,” Ebrahim added. (BYC PR Unit/RMM)
