Sarangani to host Local Conference of the Youth Mindanao Leg

   Sarangani Province will be hosting the Local Conference of the Youth (Local COY) Mindanao Leg. The said event will be on October 3-5, 2018 at the Municipality of Kiamba, Sarangani Province. COY is organized by the National Youth Commission (NYC), Climate Change Commission (CCC), and YesPinoy Foundation (YPF), with the support of The Climate Reality Project (TCRP), the Provincial Government of Sarangani, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). 

   Different youth leaders all over Mindanao will participate in the three-day event. COY aims to provide space for local youth and youth organizations to learn and share about climate change issues; to create awareness among young people to adopt a climate-smart lifestyle and adaptation activities; to network with other youth and youth organizations and collaborate best Climate Action practices; and to develop champions and provide them with climate negotiation and policy making skills. 

   “It’s about time that the youth should tackle climate change issues and to do something about it,” said John Oliver Tablazon, the Provincial Youth Coordinator and Project Head of Sulong Kabataan Program. As partners for development, the youth should also take a stand as they will be the future who will be affected of the consequences that we do in the present.” 

   Three years since it was first celebrated as a Philippine pre-Paris COP initiative, the Youth in Climate Action (#NowPH) has transformed itself as an indispensable climate action platform for young Filipinos, recognizing the contribution of young people in meaningful climate and disaster resiliency action. 

Assistant Secretary Paul Pangilinan (4th from right), Commissioner-At-Large of the National Youth Commission and his staff pay a courtesy call to Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (3rd from right) at Greenleaf Hotel last July 30 to discuss the preparation of a conference on Youth in Climate Action-Mindanao leg. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE

   “Gov. Steve C. Solon is very supportive to any envi-related events. In fact, he made sure to meet the National Youth Commission and Climate Change Commission staff to discuss the event. He always remind us (the Sulong Kabataan) to incorporate environmental projects in the program.” 

   “He also encourages the youth in general to join the cause in protecting and preserving the environment,” Tablazon said. “I believe in the power of the youth to do it.” 

   In its 4th year, the lead conveners of the Youth in Climate Action is pushing forward its goal of creating a community of young people championing meaningful climate action. With past event outputs, the consolidated outcome of the action plans from 2015-2017 will serve as the foundation for this year’s celebration. Movers from last year’s conference will take a lead role in creating and mobilizing young climate champions at the local level for the local and national COY – inspired by the COYs of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change-Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC-COP).