The City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO), in partnership with the Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), will be celebrating the Linggo ng Kabataan with the 2023 City Junior Officials program on August 4 to 11.
A total of 50 young people between ages 13-17 will be taking on the role of junior city government executives for a week. After a systematic filtering process, one of them will be chosen as junior city mayor, another as vice mayor, 27 will take on the roles of 27 city councilors, while the rest will act as junior city department heads.
The City Junior Officials 2023 aims to develop and hone leadership skills among the youth and to encourage their active participation in policy-making and local governance.
From August 7-11, the chosen junior officials will assume their assigned roles and learn the functions and mandate of their office. Through their executive roles, the participants will have the privilege of observing the bureaucratic processes of the local government up close.
Participants will also pay courtesy calls on the city mayor and vice mayor, attend parliamentary sessions, visit local public institutions, and take part in simulation exercises where they will enact their given roles and imitate the legislative and administrative structures of a working city government.
Gilda Salvaña, Chief of the CSWDO-Child and Youth Welfare Division, said the participants were chosen based on the recommendation from their barangay SK, head of organization, or school.
Salvaña said the âCity Junior Officialsâ program is the main highlight of this yearâs Linggo ng Kabataan celebration as the program will effectively the participating youth and challenge them to envision their future as city leaders.
âKini gyud ang atong pinaka-highlight because dako gyud ang preparation and dako gyud ang involvement sa atong mga bata (This is the highlight because our youth will have to prepare a lot and their involvement is central),â she said during the I-Speak media forum on August 3.
The best performing city junior officials will be recognized and awarded on the culmination day of the celebration on August 13.
