The Youth AgendaLocalizing Discussions in the KDC on Priority

Issues and Concerns of the Youth Beyond the May 2016 Elections

Summary

• Objectives • Engagement Mechanism• Project Video • Matrix of Responses • Website • Reflections • Recommendations

Objectives

• Provide a local perspective to common issues of the youth in three major areas: (a) education, (b) employment, and (c) environment.

• Surface priority issues and concerns outside the three major areas

• Validate/Identify mechanisms of youth engagement

• Enrich understanding of variables that influence youth prioritization of issues and concerns through varied social lenses

• Develop a more comprehensive youth agenda for KDC ownership and endorsement to government

Engagement Mechanism

• Mix of In-School & Out-of-School

• Leveling of Expectations • Roundtable Discussion (Q&A)• Group Reflections • Brief Lectures

General Questions

What is your dream for the Philippines? What do you want it to become beyond the May

2016 elections?

SPUP SU WMSU

Crime-free; peaceful and united Peace and order

Unity among Christians, Muslims,

Lumads and other IPs

Educated youth Improved education quality

Competent and highly skilled youth

Healthcare for all Equality; no

homeless and beggars

Decentralized development

Increased agricultural

development (farm-to-market roads

Better roads in Mindanao

Alternative sources of energy

What issues and concerns do you think should government give more attention to beyond the

May 2016 elections?

SPUP SU WMSU

Child labor Healthcare inaccessibility

Worsening conditions for minorities and

marginalized sectors

Early marriages Luzon-centric opportunities HIV

Drug addiction Basic education quality review

Unequal distribution of opportunities (racial/religious discrimination)

What do you think is the role of the youth in the development of the country?

SPUP SU WMSU

Living monument Model to other youth Strong influence

Change makers; engaged

Proactive citizens; responsible Net users Aware and involved

Humble Disciplined Cause-oriented

Do you think the youth have fulfilled their role?

SPUP SU WMSU

Slowly fulfilling but need for character

formation and discipline

Gradually improving, moderately evolving;

still apathetic

Partly; Struggling to understand

themselves and being hindered by

gender roles

To what extent do you feel engaged by government in development processes” Do you

feel valued as a sector?

SPUP SU WMSU

Yes — ALS for OSY Yes — scholarships in

state universities, LGU programs and

support for the youth

Yes — privileges of education and

healthcare; programs and projects for the

youth

Not so much engaged — no venue

for participation in dialogues and

discussions

No — not feel anything; youth is

being used for corruption and politics (SK)

No — valued only in times of election; not consulted on results

of development processes

What do you think can government do to encourage your active participation in

development processes?

SPUP SU WMSU

Provide budget and support to youth

organizations

Initiate ways of empowering us and

sustaining engagement

Conduct training and awareness programs

for the youth

Clean government; elected leaders to serve as models

Have a truthful government; show genuine intentions for the best of the

country — not disappoint us

Cascade information to grassroots communities

Are there solutions to some of the country’s problems that you think have not been pursued yet? What would these be and what can you do

to realize them? SPUP SU WMSU

Micro-social enterprise for

vulnerable sectors (youth, mothers,

OSY)

Traffic — increase mass transit; start

even in small urban areas

Fast-track approval of the BBL

Establish a youth group in every

barangay

Equitable taxation — tax more higher

income

Establish and increase access to

rehab facilities

Education

What is your idea of education? How important is it to you?

SPUP SU WMSU

Tool to uplift the lives of others

Education is key to eradicating poverty

Skills acquisition, apart from theories

Are you satisfied with the quality of education in the country?

SPUP SU WMSU

Yes — education has contributed to growth of the

country; ALS for OSY; scholarships

availablee but many are lazy

Yes — because of good basic ed

training, even from public school

Yes — but facilities in public schools are lacking and not at par with private

schools; scholarships cover tuition but not misc and subsistence

allowance

No — not enough opportunities to pursue formal

education

No — some teachers are lazy; poor

learning in some public schools;

teachers use the vernacular

No — poor access in far-flung areas; site planning hazardous

to health of elementary pupils

Why do you think there is a high drop-out rate? What prevents the youth from pursuing formal

education in your own community/region?

SPUP SU WMSU

Financial — better work and earn; breadwinner

Poverty — absence of food discourages

them from schooling

Safety and security — danger of

schooling at night

Early pregnancy; drug addiction

Family — over-reliance on family

wealth; weak support system

Academic schedule need to

accommodate more working youth

Teacher bias; humiliate students

High cost of school materials; absence of

preferred courses

Based on what your experience or observation in your community or region, what are the other problems related to education that need to be

addressed?SPUP SU WMSU

Lack of qualified teachers; weak

commitment in ALS

Too much focus on grades — not

essence of education Limited access to

scholarships

Bullying, peer pressure Parental neglect

Why do you think these programs persist? What needs to be done to address them?

SPUP SU WMSU

Inequitable distribution of

resources among public schools in

rural areas

Misplaced prioritization;

mindset of fun

Lack of collaboration among sectors; integrate social

media as a platform to generate ideas for

solutions Multi-sectoral

approach to creating solutions

Tighten peer-to-peer support system

Do you feel empowered or engaged in addressing education-related problems as an individual? As a youth sector — do you feel

represented? SPUP SU WMSU

Yes — voice out thoughts on critical

issues; give encourage to other

OSY to study

Yes — relevant laws in place but not

invoked, implemented; K+12

voucher system; Project Agakay

Yes — but work with others

Broaden community engagement

Increase youth involvement in

planning process

Not proper representation —

youth to represent, not politicians

(prostitution of youth continues after

Zamboanga siege); poor compliance with

standards set for youth organizations

What do you think is missing today in addressing the problem of education?

SPUP SU WMSU

Lack of commitment and emphatic

leaders

Poor implementation of education programs

Inconsistency in implementation

Poor sense of community

Lack of networking between youth and

government; no coordination

Lack of complementation;

government bureaucracy

What do you think should the next Administration do to address these problems in

your community or region?

SPUP SU WMSU

Sense of focus — prioritize

Create long-term plan with goals and targets — and follow

it

Invest in science and technology and research; haste

Increase efficiency in budget allocation

Gather information regarding the state

of the youth in provinces

Hasten action; address at grassroots

level

When can you say that we have been successful in addressing education problems?

SPUP SU WMSU

Increased literary rate No more OSY No more OSY and

unemployed

Isolated areas acquire necessary

technologies Build-up of trust in

government More tangible

projects with felt impact

Employment

What jobs fit the youth of today? What is the ideal job for young people?

SPUP SU WMSU

Agriculturists Computer-relatedService workers

(waiters, bartenders. etc)

Technology-based Frontliners Call center agents

Call center agents Social media influencers

Do you think these jobs are available to the youth in your community/region?

SPUP SU WMSU

Yes — Cagayan Valley has vast

farmlandsYes — if you look for

it, you’ll find it Yes

How confident are you that you will get that kind of job?

SPUP SU WMSU

No — without education how?

Enough job opportunities but don't meet people

standards Yes

Do you think there’s enough job opportunities outside your community/region?

SPUP SU WMSU

Yes — Manila mentality Yes. Yes

Can you say that the available job opportunities meet your expectations and

skills?

SPUP SU WMSU

No — forced to work because of salary; not-so decent jobs

that don’t meet expectations

No — low-paying, not enough to provide

for needs Yes

What do you think is the cause of high unemployment?

SPUP SU WMSU

Over supply from certain courses but

low availability “Palakasan” system Job-skill mismatch

Unmet qualifications People lazy and

spoiled (Pantawid Pamilya)

Lack of interest and confidence

Luzon/Manila-centered

Career preference vs job preference

Why is unemployment unresolved?

SPUP SU WMSU

Overpopulation Disparity in

availability of jobs with population

Experience requirement

prevents fresh grads from getting

employed

Padrino system Mañana habit High job standards

Corruption Government corruption

What do you think should the next Administration do to address this problem?

SPUP SU WMSU

Generate more foreign investments

into the country

Incentivize companies that hire more; consider lower

taxes for foreign investments

Address job-skills mismatch

Increase wages; provide more

training

Focus on what the country is strong in

or known for — agriculture

Ensure employment for fresh graduates

What can you contribute to addressing this problem?

SPUP SU WMSU

Improve self Career orientation Learn more about job requirements

Lobby concerns

How do you want to be engaged in addressing unemployment?

SPUP SU WMSU

Educational livelihood in isolated

areas

Pay forward — scholars now fund

future scholars Lobby youth agenda

Fight ‘kapit-kapit’ system

Eliminate crab mentality

Actively participate in job fairs; engage

employers

Environment

In what way are you concerned about the environment?

SPUP SU WMSU

Modeling of good actions; act not only

when hit Promotion of 3Rs Pursue conservation

Do you think that the youth are concerned about the environment?

SPUP SU WMSU

No — lack strong connection to issue;

“malakas ang kalaban”

No — there are some organizations but

efforts not sustained

No — simple environmental issues

unresolved; contribute to

pollution

Yes — interest in environmental

research

Do you think that government and other sectors are concerned about the environment?

SPUP SU WMSU

Yes — but not enough; act and

refuse ‘suhol’; weak implementation

Yes — schools require tree planting;

strong LGU environmental

programs (waste disposal, plastics)

Yes — but businesses and industries contribute to

pollution; faithful implementation

needed

What are the pressing environmental problems that you think need great attention?

SPUP SU WMSU

Climate change Endangered species Climate change

Solid waste management Waste management Lack of government

action

Pollution Air pollution Pollution

Illegal fishing Mining, oil spills

How would you rank these environmental problems in terms of gravity and need for

solution?

SPUP SU WMSU

Illegal mining Waste management Air pollution (go renewable)

Dynamite fishing Air pollution

Solid waste management Drainage

Pollution

Why do these problems persist?

SPUP SU WMSU

Citizens’ lack of care and concern

Government improves economy

without view of impact on

environment

Lack of discipline, knowledge

Poor enforcement Weak

implementation of laws

Lack of monitoring

Inefficient leaders Lack of commitment

What have we to do or have not done in addressing them?

SPUP SU WMSU

Be one with government

Drum up noise through youth-

oriented activities

Lack of youth action but blames

government easily

Be involved Poor information relay

Lack of investment in research

Government projects lack environmental

component

What have we succeeded in doing?

SPUP SU WMSU

3Rs Recycling projects Relevant city ordinances

New DENR laws — weak teeth

Anti-illegal logging campaigns

Gardening in schools; tree planting

What can you suggest to the next Administration to address these problems?

SPUP SU WMSU

Strengthen environmental

education in HEIs and ALS

Think of environmental

consequences in long-term

development planning

Invest in research and offer grants

Establish tougher penalties

Strict regulation on use of plastics

Widen scope of awareness campaigns

http://kdcyouthagenda.comxa.com

Reflections

Reflections

• Youth see potential and appreciate government — just not enough

• Being “heard” and “listened to” is a value in itself

• Youth engagement inspires better youth involvement and dynamism

• Perception prevails that youth engagement is Manila-centered, elitist/non-inclusive, overwhelming to vulnerable sectors

• Lack of bottom-up youth engagement mechanisms

• Limited participation in the development cycle

Recommendations

• Consider implementing similar youth discussions in other KDCs (using the same format)

• Synthesize and collate responses

• Develop a social media platform for wider youth exchange (start with KDcs)

• Adopt expanded “Youth Agenda” for endorsement to NYC