After super typhoon Yolanda, efforts were re-directed towards re-building lives and communities. Priority of local government units, then, were needs of the victims, said Alicia Severino, DSWD’s focal person for the Unlad Kabataan Program (UKP).

The organization of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines, Incorporated (PYAP, Inc.) is a strategy under the UKP to provide a venue for discussion of issues affecting the youth.  It is a duly – constituted barangay – based organization of the disadvantaged youth between the ages of 15 to 24 years old.

The PYAP, Inc. is organized nationwide and is federated from the barangay, municipal, city, provincial, regional and national levels.

In the region, Severino reported that PYAP members have done remarkable contributions to communities; were visible in post Yolanda operations; are empowered; and make good resource speakers in leadership trainings for youth, as they speak the language of their peers.

She also pointed out that these youths make good leaders, fit for the Sanggunian Kabataan (SK).

“Much has been done by the DSWD to capacitate them, but the main actors in running the program are the LGUs.  The UKP has been devolved to the local government units for implementation,” she further stated.

Currently, only five associations are active.  These are the provincial federation of Northern Samar, and the city federations of Tacloban, Ormoc, Calbayog, and Borongan.#