Tribal youth in Caraga participate in the Mindanao Youth Convergence on Disaster Resilience, Sustainability
BUTUAN CITY -- A total of 29 indigenous peoples (IP) Youth from Caraga region representing the Manobo, Mamanwa, Higaonon, Mandaya, Banwaon, and Talaandig Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) participated in the recently conducted 1st Mindanao Youth Convergence (MYC) on Disaster Resilience and Sustainability facilitated by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in partnership with the National Youth Commission (NYC) – Davao and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) -XI on December 18-19 at Ritz Hotel, Davao City.
The MYC gathered youth leaders, government agencies, private sector partners, and international organizations to collaboratively explore sustainable and inclusive solutions for disaster management and resilience building in Mindanao. It also highlighted the leadership skills, passion for community engagements, and collective voices and level aspirations of participating youth leaders towards nation-building at the grassroots level.
“Your participation and commitment are vital in shaping a resilient Mindanao. Today, you are not just attendees but active contributors to nation-building and the future of our region,” emphasized MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno.
The participating youth leaders from various regions engaged in insightful workshops and action planning to craft the Mindanao Youth Action Plan on Disaster Resilience and Sustainability, in support of the proposed Mindanao Disaster Resilience Resource Center (MDRRC). The sessions included discussions on Sustainability in Disaster Management and Resilience Building, Role of the Youth in Disaster Preparedness and Response, Building Disaster-Resilient Communities, Innovations in Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Strengthening Disaster Preparedness and Response Mechanisms.
The Caraga IP youth were also given the opportunity to visit the facilities of Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DCDRRMO).
“Even the small actions we make like segregating trash can be of great impact in preventing climate change. Also, we learned the different kinds of equipment and tools to use during disasters as we visited the DCDRRMO. It was indeed an insightful experience,” said Junmar iligan, Manobo, member of Caraga Indigenous Peoples Scholars Organization (CIPSO).
"We did not know what to expect but as we went through the experiences, we realized that the MYC is full of learnings, innovative ideas, and practical solutions to disaster response and resiliency. More importantly, we were able to network with our fellow youth from Region 9 to Region 13 who have the same aspirations, inspiring us to together be proactive leaders and members of the society,” said Jo Leanne Carnecer, Mamanwa, Agusan del Norte IP Youth Organization (ADNIPYO) president.
“Being prepared is extremely important in facing any challenges or difficulties in our lives, especially during times of disasters or calamities. These events are often unpredictable. This is why we need to always be ready to protect ourselves and our communities. This is our responsibility for a safer future,” shared Khen Balocloc, Mamanwa, IP youth of Katibulosan na Mamanwang Kabatan-unan Ka CADT 254.
The Caraga IP Youth delegates composed of four from Agusan del Norte, 12 from Agusan del Sur, eight form Surigao del Norte, and five from Surigao del Sur collectively reaffirm their commitment to working hand-in-hand with Indigenous Cultural Communities and other stakeholders to advocate for the protection of ancestral domains and ensure their role in shaping a sustainable and resilient Mindanao. (NCIP Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
