New youth minute

MANILA, Philippines - It’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it. With the National Youth Commission’s recent backstage successes, Gio Tingson is paving a way for a new breed of political leadership.

There is an argument to be made about youth apathy and their actual disenfranchisement — that kids don’t care much because they hardly ever get the chance to. When sitting National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman Gio Tingson took the youth-oriented government agency’s helm, he took it as a challenge to provide his peers with the chance to make a difference for themselves.

Even as it works on a modest budget, the NYC is not only responsible for making sure that youth interests are represented in national laws, but also with letting them know about programs that aim for their economic and social development. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it, and with the NYC’s recent backstage successes (the RH Bill and the Sin Tax law are prime examples) it seems like all that trouble is worth it. Finding out more about the little engine that could, Young STAR hangs out with NYC Chairman Gio Tingson during his agency’s mid-year assessment to talk about policy advocacy, sacrificing fun, and giving the President some ballsy advice.

YOUNG STAR: The NYC is primarily a youth-oriented office, but do you think enough people know about what you do and that you exist?

GIO TINGSON: Yung population natin aabot na ng 100 million, and 1/3 noon kabataan. And in the 30 million, during our impact assessment, less than half knew what NYC does. But what we’re proud of is that the advocacies we’ve been pushing for — bills we’ve been pushing for, policies we’re putting in — are very effective in constituencies, and building constituencies in our output. Ano examples nito? The RH Bill, prime mover yung NYC sa ASRH (adolescent sexual reproductive health). Another could be the Sin Tax bill. We’re very crucial in building a constituency among the youth for sin tax reform.

Why is it important for young people to get involved in policy advocacy?

(In NYC), pananaw namin na these policies directly affect young people. Halimbawa, we’ve been pushing for students’ rights and welfare bill. We believe that in reforming the education system, who has to be the prime mover? Prime mover ang estudyante, sa dami ng stakeholders sa university, diba? So students should have the biggest say in how the schools are being run. If young people are enabled, young people are empowered, and they participate, mapapabuti ang batas.

The President is pretty keen on youth-related interests. In what ways has he sought your advice, especially during the last SONA?

Karamihan ng youth policies, before it becomes a law, ASEAN declarations, ganyan. They seek the input of the NYC. Yon yung malaking bagay soon. For example, we just approved the Go Negosyo bill, catering to micro, small, and medium enterprises (partnering with Senator Bam Aquino). Now that it has turned into a law, we’ve been working with Bam on the advocacy stage. Pero bago yun, sabi ni Presidente, ‘I need the input of NYC. I will not sign a law that is related to the youth without comments or policies from the NYC.’ Kumbaga sa major policies na ganito, the NYC has the ear of the President.

Does he prefer that your recommendations play it safe, or does he appreciate something more ballsy?

We give it as it is. Ito yung kailangan, there is a policy recommendation. The President takes in a light na, ‘Ah, okay, ito yung needs assessed.’

That all sounds pretty daunting. Is it difficult for you guys to still have fun?

Yung forgoing short-term pleasures for long-term goals, alam mo yun? (Laughs) Pero masaya naman like kagabi tumugtog yung Up Dharma Down, sakto natapos kami. Sabi ko, ‘Sh*t, magpupuyat ako, manonood ako ng Up Dharma Down’ kasi sobrang stressed nako. Mga singit-singit na ganoon. Pero di na pwede yung parang dati sa college na ‘Inom tayo after class!’ (Laughs) Pwede pa ako mag-basketball… eto, there’s so much at stake now. But now, I try to think ang daming nag-dedepend on our output, and they deserve excellence. May ganoong klaseng sacrifice.

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Check out www.nyc.gov.ph.