The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) awarded the 2024 Most Functional Pag-asa Youth Group in Davao City, which was able to exhibit functionality and accomplish its action plans through active community volunteerism.
The Pag-asa Youth Association (PYAP) Calinan Población was feted during the Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) held at the Apo View Hotel on July 30, 2024.
The group outshined nine other groups that joined this year’s search.
CSWDO Youth Welfare Focal Sharlene Blas R. Villaluz, RSW told Madayaw that this year, the number of participating groups increased to nine from last year’s seven.
This year is the third year of the CSWDO’s search for the Most Functional PYAP.
“Nagadaghan ang atong [participants] sa most functional everytime man gud nga naga award mi ma encourage ang uban nga gusto pud mi makadawat ana. Goal nato nga ma acknowledge ang ilang effort through community volunteerism kay dili pud lalim ang effort sa atong PYAP karon kay siyempre si PYAP walay budget so grabe ang tapping of resources sa community so makita gyud nato ang pagpaningkamot nila para atong kabatan-onan ma aktibo sa communidad despite of the challenges nga wala silay budget (We saw an increase in the number of participants because everytime we give awards, others are encouraged to also receive an award. It is our goal to acknowledge their effort through community volunteerism because they have given extra effort as the PYAP operates without a budget, so there is the tapping of community resources. We can see the hard work of the youth in the community despite the challenges),” Villaluz said.
She added that in the assessment, they check the accomplishment reports of the participating PYAP groups to see if they were able to follow their action plans.
“Nag check gyud ta sa ilang 2023 accomplishment report through the guide sa ilang action plan. Kung kadto ba ang action plan na implement ba gyud to siya so mao gyud to siya ang dako na factor nga mas bug-at tan-awon sa atong mga judges kay dili man ta nga makaingon nga functional ang usa ka organization kung wala silay activity na naimplement and wala na implement ang ilahang action plan (We checked their 2023 accomplishment reports and compare them with their action plan as guide. We check if the action plans were implemented and that is the biggest factor which was given weight by our judges because we cannot say that a group is functional if it did not implement the activity, or if it did not implemented its action plan),” Villaluz said.
Villaluz said she is hopeful that by next year or in the coming years, more PYAP groups from the 15 CSWDO districts will be able to participate in the search for the Most Functional PYAP group. She assured that the CSWDO gives support to the programs led by youth.
Acting President of PYAP Calinan Población, Kazumi Yurika Shuri Yamanaka, in a separate interview, said that they are very thankful for the recognition.
“It is not for us officers, but for all the youth in Calinan Población. I believe na ang win po naming ito is for the future activities of Calinan Población para sa mga youth po para mag grow pa kami at mas marami pang youth na maging active (This is not for us officers but for all the youth of Calinan Población. I believe that this win is for the future activities of the Calinan Población Youth for us to grow and also invite more youth to be active,” she said, adding that their active PYAP members are at around 200-300. She said many are encouraged to join the activities.
She said that their group’s advocacy includes environmental protection and providing social services such as outreach for the children and the elders.
PYAP is a duly constituted Barangay-based organization of disadvantaged youth between 15 – 30 years old. The PYAP was first incorporated on July 29, 1974, with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the name of Pag-asa Youth Movement, Incorporated (PYM, Inc.) CIO.
