WITH what we see or read in all social media, netizens' posts, and newspapers, I want to have a relief, not just for me, but for all my readers. I admire Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in her style of governance. I featured her 10-point blueprint for governance for a city when she was elected as Mayor of Davao. I even recommended this as a role model for all other governing bodies in larger scales as a country. Now she has as mayor talked of her plan to exhort all elected barangay officials. There are more than 1,200 barangays and their councilors. Thirty-nine women took their oath as barangay captains before Mayor Sara. She urged them to render their support for her city ordinances. She asked them to start drafting their barangay plans before their session on July 2. It must be a plan for a three-year term.
The mayor wants to institutionalize the purok system. It is the smallest unit of governance and the barangay officials should elect them. This group can be mobilized to support and bring government service down to the grass root levels. This will include the maintenance of peace and order and intelligence monitoring.
The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation in Davao City plans to create a youth hub in the city to provide space for the youth to gather and be provided with needed services. This youth hub will be a place for all youth groups to hold trainings and workshops, meetings on various activities and services. They will monitor "Yes to Sports, No to Drugs" activities campaign, which they find the most interesting. The curriculum on The dangers of drugs is readied for elementary and intermediate levels to inform them of its dangers and thus learn hand in hand how to avoid them.
The passing of the Mental Health Law is a very timely and urgently needed law. Depression, psychosis, Schizophrenia, dementia, suicide, despondency are prevented when the citizens have the chance to know how to live a healthy fruitful life at home, in society, places of work, and gangs. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as "a state or condition of a human being concerning his or her emotional and psychological well - being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, functions in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life." Knowing all these is a battle half won because the person is able to cope with his or her daily difficult bothering experiences.
Next is the problem of physical health of persons specially the young ones. Eating the correct food is one of them. There is a regulation for all school canteens to serve correct food choices. Not what they fancy but the food which has nutritional values must be provided. Some schools in Metro Manila were fined by serving "junk food" as very salty chips, and over sweetened drinks. The students are not permitted to get food from the stores outside the school gate.
On scholarship grants, there are many companies providing these as part of the philanthropic programs. SM has this. Security Bank Foundation turned over two-story with eight-classroom buildings to Koronadal schools. Panasonic is accepting applicants for college degrees and vocational courses to contribute to the country's progress and development. Applicants must be Filipino citizen and qualified college students to study on offered courses mostly industrial, accountancy and economics.
The Indigenous Peoples Summit was a convergence of the groups from the Island of Mindanao. They discussed issues which affect their lives, their culture, their traditions, their assurance of safety in their villages, and the treatment of some agencies of their elders and leaders. The summit included representatives from the National Commission of the Indigenous Peoples, Department of Interior and Local Governments, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Foces of the Philippines, the National Development Authority, the local governments, and the Mindanao Development Authority. This event is so significant to thresh out all problems of the Tribal groups of Mindanao.
As I wrote my introduction to this column today, I hope I gave you different aspects of our life here in our country, the good events to give us the incentives to go on hoping for our peace and progress in the Philippines, the Pearl of the Orient Seas. For comments text mobile no.09202112534.
