A STATEMENT ON THE ZERO ALLOCATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR PYAP AND OYDC IN THE 2015 CITY BUDGET

#PAGSURE!

A STATEMENT ON THE ZERO ALLOCATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR PYAP AND OYDC IN THE 2015 CITY BUDGET

The Oro Youth Development Council, a coalition of different youth volunteer organizations from 7 sectors (In school, out of school, faith based, community based, Special needs, Muslim, Indigenous Peoples) is deeply disappointed and immensely frustrated over the results of the 2015 City Council budget deliberation with respect to the youth programs of the local government unit.

The proposed appropriation ordinance for CY 2015 of the City Council reveals painfully deep cuts in the special youth programs of the executive budget:

YOUTH PROGRAMS	Past Actual CY 2013	Current Year Estimate CY 2014	EXECUTIVE BUDGET CY 2015	PROPOSED ORDINANCE BY 2015 CITY COUNCIL	DECREASE	PERCENTAGE %
Training Conventions for PYAP (Out of School)	None	100,000.00	2,000,000.00	0	2,000,000.00	-100%
Practical Skills Development	18,000.00	100,000.00	1,000,000.00	18,000.00	982,000.00	-98%
Oro Youth Development Program	None	-None	1,447,000.00	0	1,447,000.00	-100%
Educational Assistance Program - College	157,501.00	500,000.00	1,000,000.00	160,000.00	840,000.00	-84%

We are mindful that the City Council, as the local legislative body posses the power of the purse. However, we are also keenly aware that the legislative body is suppose to be the representative of the people, the repository of the sovereign will of the people of the locality. The City Council seems to overlook the glaring fact that nearly one-third of the people of this city are under the youth age bracket and the budgetary allocation is designed to provide support services particularly for this segment in our society.

Though we are also mindful that the CSWD has in its MOOE an allocation for the youth sector, the allocation there are for the line of services it regularly offers to the marginalized youth. It is indeed the office's mandate to care of the most vulnerable in our city and we are happy at least that the regular programs are sustained. However, considering that Cagayan de Oro is the 3 richest city outside Metro Manila and a leader in the Island and the region, it is but justifiable that we entrain innovations in the delivery and approach on youth services. We do not want to only offer social nets but we hope that the city can become a pontent force in empowering the youth to engage in governance. The OYDC is an example of that attempt to innovate and the budget we proposed would at least sustain the effort that the council has initiated. 

Let us be clear on this matter. The Oro Youth Development Council is first and foremost a citizen-led and volunteer group recognized through executive order 72-2014. We constructively engage in our own volition. This desire to engage governance is solely compelled by our sense of duty and mission that we can influence our public institutions to be more participatory and inclusive.

We are neither paid nor offered pecuniary benefits for our work in the local government unit. Our only return is knowing that we are doing our part for the city we love.

Our budget proposal does not have any indication that we are here to be compensated. The bulk of the budget is for necessary administrative expenses for forums, studies, consultations, project and organizational support for youth groups engaging in the 5 thematic areas (Public quality education, Disaster preparedness and solid waste management, peace and order, health and good governance) articulated in the Local Youth Development Agenda by the youth themselves during the March 22, 2014 Youth Leaders’ Summit.

This act of the City Council delivers a strong message among the youth especially to those who dedicate their time and effort for the development of the city that they can be and are just taken for granted. It shows that their presence is unimportant in the civic life of the community and their desire for strategic development can be easily dismissed. The act somehow tells us that the youth is not worth the greater investment even though this amount is just a drop in the bucket – a minuscule 0.2% of total budget based on current year estimates.

For the sake of argument, even if the offices in charge of youth affairs did not properly substantiate the items and defend it properly to the last detail, the item should not be automatically slashed to zero. The City Council should at least allocate a reasonable seed amount.  Because the Constitution of the Republic itself recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building, the City Council should be aware that in case of doubt, rule in favor of the youth sector. This did not happen in our case.

We are also aware that 10% of the Barangay funds are already allocated for Youth programs and therefore may lead to the conclusion that the youth does not need any support from the city level anymore. This logic misses the point that a convergence of efforts in a city level is necessary for a city to compete and develop a more cohesive development direction for the youth.

Furthermore, PYAP or the Pagasa Youth Association of the Philippines, which is a support group for out-of-school-youth, has also been given zero budget. The Out of School youth is considered a vulnerable sector, which requires society’s utmost attention and care. This action of giving them virtually nothing adds insult to injury.

Sadly, the action of the City Council to sustain the status quo in the backdrop of greater city revenue generation is a major setback in our institutional efforts to make Cagayan de Oro a leading city for youth empowerment. This however does not derail our desire to serve. It only galvanizes us to be more creative and resourceful in sourcing funds.

If there is one thing clear about this matter, it is revealing to the public the priority and the quality or lack thereof of the Local Legislators who voted for this measure. This could have been a strategic investment for the local government unit where convergence of youth efforts for community development can effectively be facilitated and directed. However, they do not seem to see the value, necessity and importance of that vision.

The Youth of the City will not forget.