COTABATO CITY—Chairperson Marjanie Mimbantas Macasalong of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) delivered the second State of the Bangsamoro Youth Address (SOBYA) on Thursday, August 12, as part of the regional celebration of the International Youth Day.
Macasalong highlighted how the BYC has worked much in the past year for the youth across the region— conducted awareness program on Bangsamoro Organic Law, humanitarian program Lingkod Kabataang Bangsamoro, peace and security initiatives, faith-based activities, interfaith dialogues, and several other initiatives with ministries, and other non-government partners.
The Bangsamoro youth in the past decades, Macasalong noted, became a driving force in forming the newly established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and how they are continuing in providing positive changes in the region.
“The Bangsamoro struggle, as can be similarly observed in various movements across the globe, is a product of the passion and idealism of the youth,” Macasalong added.
The weeklong regional IYD celebration was kicked off on August 5 when commissioners in the five provinces also delivered their provincial SOBYA to highlight their accomplishments and future plans in the youth of their areas. There have been youth online conversation, second Bangsamoro youth coordinating council meeting, first development partners forum, BYC-en banc regular session, memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing, and the launch of ‘Ideation Impact Challenge: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ as part of the celebration.
BYC-NYC memorandum of agreement
On Thursday, Chairperson Macasalong and National Youth Commission (NYC) Assistant Secretary Alexa Dannielle Dayanghirang inked a memorandum of agreement devolving the powers of NYC to BYC.
The MOA has also recognized the joint initiative and cooperation between two parties for various initiatives concerning their personnel and the youth.
Ideation Impact Challenge
The impact challenge is a call for proposal program for youth organizations, Sangguniang Kabataan, and local youth development councils who advocate for community development in the Bangsamoro.
“This program aims to activate and increase youth participation into positive community transformation and development,” Macasalong added.
Bangsamoro Autonomy Act 10
The BYC is an office attached to the Office of the Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim created and established under the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act 10. Being the youth development arm of BARMM, it is also the primary policy-making and coordinating body regional government in all matters affecting the youth.
The legislation directed BYC to conduct a region-wide series of consultation to different sectors affecting youth, and various line agencies and development partners to formulate the Bangsamoro Youth Transition Priority Agenda (BYTPA) 2020-2022—the document that would guide BARMM in youth development with considerations of its “unique context, conditions, and needs confronting the Bangsamoro youth.”
This year’s IYD celebration bears the theme: “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health” to emphasize that the success of a global effort will not be achieved without the participation of young people.
IYD is an international day dedicated by the United Nations to raise awareness on the cultural and legal issues surrounding the youth. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
