Some 500 high school and college students of the Cotabato City Polytechnic College (CCSPC) here participated in the ASEAN Youth Forum held March 31, 2017 organized by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 12.
PIA, together with its partners, continue to engage the citizenry especially the youth for better understanding and appreciation of government programs by collaborating with schools and universities for the conduct of the ASEAN Youth Forum.
CCSPC as the only state college in the city has a student population of over 6,000 comprising Muslim, Christian, Indigenous Peoples both in the high school and collegiate levels enjoying peaceful co-existence.
Resource persons/panelists during the ASEAN Youth Forum include OIC-Regional Director Joey Sem Dalumpines who gave an overview of Ang Bagong PIA, Maco Tanggorac of DFA-RCO XII Cotabato City-ASEAN and its Institutional Partners, Apollo Manlawe, Economic Development Specialist of NEDA XII explained AmBisyon Nation 2040, and updates on Peace And Security under ASEAN presented by Capt. Arvin Encinas, Division Public Affairs Office head and spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division representing Brig, Gen. Arnel dela Vega.
Manifesting keen interest and enthusiasm, many students and teachers actively participated in the open forum. One of them is a high school student of the CCSPC Laboratory High School.
Ibrahim Noor, is a vibrant and jolly grade 7 student who shared his insights on the lectures and the topics discussed during the forum
“Natutunan ko po ang mga dapat naming malaman mga mahahalagang bagay tungkol sa ASEAN . Na mahalagang mapanatili ang maayos at aktibong ugnayan at pagtutulungan para sa kaunlaran at katatagan ng bawat miyembro ng ASEAN. For example po yung ating mga immediate neighbors na mga bansa, malinaw ang important role they play in making sure na yung ASEAN community is safe and prosperous,” he said.
Noor also stressed the importance of increasing people’s awareness and understanding of relevant and significant issues and concerns affecting the country and citizenry especially among the youth seen as future leaders of the country.
“As a young student nadadagdagan yung kaalaman namin tungkol sa mga programs ng government. Through information dissemination. Masasabi ko po na mas magiging matibay ang Pilipinas at magkakaroon ng unity ang bawat kasapi ng ASEAN countries.” he added.
In his welcome message, CCSPC president Dr. Dammang Bantala urged the teachers and students in attendance to listen and learn/absorb important and relevant information discussed and explained by the resource persons that would enhance their background and knowledge about the ASEAN.
Bantala expressed his appreciation for the partnership with academic institutions in the conduct of ASEAN Youth Forum to share and enhance the knowledge not only of students but most important to the teachers who can share vital and timely information to their students.
“This forum is timely and very relevant to increase the level of awareness of students on important issues like the ASEAN as we oftentimes say, they will be the future leaders of the country,” Bantala said.”(LTOBolongon/PBChangco/PIA/Cotabato City)
