The Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU), through its Local Youth Development Office (LYDO), successfully conducted the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Mandatory Training on July 19-20, 2024.

The activity is also an offshoot of the launching of the Youth CARES Program which has been institutionalized by the Sangguniang Bayan. The Youth CARES stands for 𝐂hampioning Excellence and Dynamism with 𝐀ccess to Equitable Opportunities thru 𝐑esponsible and Responsive Governance taking into consideration 𝐄nvironmentally and Economically-sound Appropriate Plans towards 𝐒ustainable Development Initiatives.

Under the theme “Youth CARES Summit: Bontoc’s Youth Development Program Towards Bontoc Ay Enlangakha,” the event marks a significant step in empowering Bontoc’s young leaders and fostering community growth.

The training sessions covered crucial topics such as mental health awareness, report presentation, social media captioning, and the importance of youth in tourism development.

The speakers and facilitators from various offices of the Bontoc LGU provided valuable insights and practical knowledge, enhancing the young leaders in their responsibilities.

In his message, Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tuldong, Jr., emphasized that the proactive involvement of young people is crucial in driving the community forward. He encouraged the participants to share the lessons and knowledge they would acquire during the training with their fellow youth.

The mayor added that by disseminating this valuable information, they can widen their impact, ensuring that this ripple effect of shared learning and collaboration among the youth would lead to a more empowered and united Bontoc, capable of overcoming obstacles and achieving sustainable growth.

Following this, Nurse I Dixi Jane Kiniway of the Municipal Health Office (MHO) discussed the signs and causes of stress, the importance of self-awareness during distressing events, and coping mechanisms for distressing situations.

She demonstrated the twelve S against stress: spirituality, smile, self-awareness, sounds, sports, siesta, stress debriefing, scheduling, speaking to others, sensation techniques, socialization, and stretching exercises.

Kiniway encouraged the young leaders to seek support when needed, practice self-care, and foster an environment where mental health is openly discussed and valued.

The second topic of the training highlighted the importance of effective communication. Information Officer II Alpine Killa-Malwagay of the Office of the Municipal Mayor – Information Unit taught the participants how to create effective presentations and reports, both as youth leaders and students.

She underscored the importance of good social media captioning, particularly for managing their respective youth council’s Facebook Pages, noting that a well-crafted caption can attract more readers and convey the intended emotions of the pictures.

As part of the discussion, Malwagay engaged the participants in a practical exercise, instructing them to apply the techniques and knowledge they had gathered from the session.

The final topic for the first day focused on the role of youth in tourism development, presented by Tourism Operations Officer II Caren Guinayen.

She discussed how the youth can boost tourism in their communities by preserving cultural heritage and promoting local attractions.

Guinayen emphasized that by engaging in cultural preservation and active promotion, the youth could play a crucial role in attracting visitors and boosting the local economy.

On the second day, Atty. Blake Feken shared his expertise and lifelong learnings to the youth – participants.

Meanwhile, Local Youth Development Officer III Ross Kiat-ong expressed hope that the training would inspire and equip the young leaders to make meaningful contributions to their communities and help boost local tourism.