GOVERNOR Xavier Jesus Romualdo of Camiguin Province reaffirmed his dedication to empowering the youth in his recent State of the Province Address (SOPA) held on January 6.
He even outlined comprehensive programs aimed at addressing the various challenges faced by young individuals in the province.
Recognizing the immense potential held by the youth of Camiguin, Gov. Romualdo emphasized the necessity of providing them with adequate support, guidance, and protection.
As part of this commitment, the Youth Care Program has been reintroduced to ensure the holistic development of the younger generation.
Last year, the program successfully reached over 10,941 junior and senior high school students in 16 public high schools and integrated schools.
He said its focus was to equip them with essential information and education on critical issues such as mental health, adolescent sexuality, child abuse protection, and staying away from delinquent activities.
Additionally, a Youth Summit was organized, with the participation of 1,231 high school students.
The summit served as a platform to discuss and address important issues such as teenage pregnancy, illegal drug use, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, bullying, and mental health.
Gov. Romualdo also highlighted his commitment to empowering the youth through information, education, communication, and advocacy programs, allowing them to grow into healthy, strong, and dynamic adults.
In line with his campaign promises, progress has been made in establishing teen centers in each municipality.
Currently, three centers are operational, and plans are underway to set up more centers with amenities like computers, printers, air conditioning, television sets, sound systems, musical instruments, and board games.
The governor aims to have 10 centers in Guinsiliban and Mahinog by the end of his term in 2025.
As part of efforts to safeguard the youth’s health, Gov. Romualdo addressed the concerning rise in teenage pregnancies, with 73 cases recorded in January to October 2022.
“The Youth Care Program will be fully reinstated to reverse this trend and achieve the reduction seen in the pre-pandemic years,” said Romualdo.
The governor is exploring the feasibility of implementing a curfew for minors, considering the suggestion put forth by the Health Department.
He stressed the need for a community-wide approach and called on the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to issue an ordinance focused on adolescent pregnancy prevention, engaging both local and national government offices.
The provincial government continues to prioritize youth education through the Provincial Youth Grant Program, benefitting a record-high of 2,683 recipients who received a P6,000 allowance.
Gov. Romualdo’s dedication extends beyond teenagers to younger siblings.
The Patsinelas Program, which offers essential services such as slippers, haircuts, nail trimming, lice treatment, and supplementary feeding, has resumed and benefited 3,522 students in 20 public elementary schools.
Furthermore, the Essential Health Care Package Program has provided kits to 12,639 schoolchildren in 55 public elementary schools, promoting healthy habits like handwashing, tooth brushing, deworming, and proper nail trimming.
The governor reiterated the commitment to instill healthy habits in children, addressing issues of underweight and severe underweight cases.
Successful vaccination programs against measles, rubella, and polio achieved an impressive coverage rate of 99.13%.
The province’s dedication to youth development extends to sports and skills training, with 565 children receiving training in various disciplines including badminton, basketball, chess, dance sport, guitar, gymnastics, painting, taekwondo, tennis, track and field, swimming, and volleyball.
Gov. Romualdo’s unwavering commitment to the holistic development of Camiguin’s youth and the well-being of vulnerable sectors ensures that no one is left behind on the province’s path to progress and prosperity. (With a report from Recthie Paculba)
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