ILOILO CITY, Sept. 16 (PNA) -– The city council here has approved on first reading the committee report on a proposed ordinance creating the Local Youth Development Council of Iloilo City as presented by the SP committee on youth and sports development chaired by city councilor Nielex Tupas.
The committee report was presented on Tuesday, September 16 during the SP regular session by city councilor Julie Grace Love Baronda as Tupas is the temporary presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Tupas said the committee report was tabled for the second and final reading by next week and hopefully, will pass the scrutiny of all members of the city council to pass an ordinance creating the Local Youth Development Council of Iloilo City.
The youth council will be composed of presidents and officers of student republics of colleges, universities and secondary schools in the city and of officers of other youth organizations here. The age requirement would be 17 to 25 years old, in school or out of school youths.
Baronda reported that a series of committee hearings was conducted on July 4 and 16, and September 8, 2014 with the youth sector particularly student councils, business sector, concerned government offices and representatives from the offices of city councilors.
During the hearings, the stakeholders signified their support to the proposed ordinance stating it as a welcome development for the city considering that no specific body or institution that purposely cater to the needs of the youth sector after the suspension of the Sangguniang Kabayaan (SK).
Suggestions were made that included a discount privilege to be extended to the youth with issued Identification Card through a memorandum of agreement with business establishments and not made compulsory as part of the ordinance.
Baronda said the youth council will be different from that of the SK which the Commission on Elections scheduled a nationwide election for SK officers by February 2015. The SK has members 15 to 17 years old. (PNA)