Rama urges brgy. officials to guide, help youth leaders

Vice Mayor Michael Rama yesterday urged barangay captains in the city to guide youth leaders in good governance, in leadership by example and in clean public service, and help them carry out measures to improve their barangays.

“Treat them like they need your guidance…do not look at them as if you have not been a child…if you stifle them, the nation will run out of future leaders,” Rama said in yesterday’s general assembly of the Association of Barangay Councils comprising the newly elected barangay captains. 

The ABC assembly took place three days after the newly elected officers of the city’s Sangguniang Kabataan Federation took their oaths of office before Rama who reminded barangay officials of their responsibility in acknowledging the ability of the youth leaders in improving their barangays.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña himself, during the plenary session of the Cebu City Plus 10 initiative of the city government, accepted as valid the concerns raised by the children and the youth sector.

Some of these concerns include reforms in the SK and the eradication of vote-buying during SK elections. The children sector also expressed difficulty in upholding their rights because of corrupt leaders and lack of budget for their welfare, the leaders’ lack of respect and confidence on them, and the parents’ lack of support.

The new SK Federation-Cebu City president is 17-year-old Rengelle Pelayo of barangay Buhisan, who said that among her priority projects would be the continued training of local youth leaders in the aspect of leadership and management, and implementation of programs for street children.

Fifty-seven out of 65 SK chairpersons from city barangays voted for Pelayo over three other rivals from barangays Pari-an, Day-as, and Mabini.

Pelayo, when told that Osmeña had endorsed her for the SKF presidency, said she was thankful about it but clarified that she never asked for it. She vowed however to stay independent politically when she sits as ex-officio member of the City Council, replacing Glena Bontuyan.

The other elected federation officers are Princess Laluani of barangay Quiot (vice president), Alliana Ardiza of barangay Pit-os (secretary), Ann Lorraine Basamot of barangay Camputhaw (treasurer), Daryl Cabanes of barangay Mambaling (auditor), Marvin Macacero of barangay Mabolo (public relations officer), and Jaime Mari Suarez of barangay Talamban (sergeant-at-arms). — Joeberth M. Ocao/RAE