COTABATO CITY— Seventy-six (76) youth leaders across Bangsamoro region participated in the first ever Bangsamoro Youth Parliament (BYP) conducted by the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) on Dec. 8-11 in this city.
BYP is a capacity-building mechanism that aims to bring together youth representatives within the region to discuss prevailing and emerging issues affecting the youth sector and craft possible solutions which will be then translated into policy.
BYC Chairperson Marjanie Mimbantas-Macasalong stressed that it is important to ensure that the youth are given avenues for engagement and participation.
“Ang magiging role nila ay may proposed bill sila sa mga nakikita nilang problema sa kanilang mga komunidad at yun ang babalangkasin at pag-uusapan nila because this is just like a parliament,” he said.
The four-day activity carried the theme: “Kabataang Bangsamoro embodying the Bangsamoro Youth Transition Priority Agenda (BYTPA).”
Parliament bills were anchored to the five (5) centers of youth participation in the BYTPA 2020-2022 which are active citizenship, peacebuildng and security, governance, health, and education.
During the activity, Macasalong discussed the mandates of the Commission, while BYC Commissioner Nasserudin Dunding presented the BYTPA 2020-2022.
Bangsamoro Transition Authority Member of Parliament (MP) Atty. Raissa Jajurie also discussed parliamentary procedures, while MP Mussolini Lidasan discussed policy formulation and policy lobbying.
“This is a manifestation sa sinasabi ng ating BARMM Chief Minister (Ahod Ebrahim) na bibigyan nila ng malaking role at i-acknowledge ang mga participation ng kabataan. Ito rin ay magbibigay ng daan na mapakinggan ang hinaing at isyu ng mga kabataan,” said Macasalong who is also a BTA member.
Peace Advocate Janice Zamora, 23, from Lantawan Municipality in Basilan, thanked the BYC for the opportunity given to the youths in the region.
“Itong BYP ay isang daan upang malaman ng kabataang Bangsamoro na pinapahalagahan ng BARMM government ang boses ng kabataan at may mga programang nakalaan para sa kanila,” Janice said.
One of the mandates of BYC is to organize trainings, seminars and workshop that will enhance the skills and leadership potentials of the youth; instilling in them nationalism and patriotism with particular emphasis on Bangsamoro culture and Islamic values.
BYC will conduct the BYP every two years.(Bangsamoro Information Office)
