The Bayambang Poverty Reduction Action Team (BPRAT), led by Municipal Administrator Atty. Rodelynn Rajini Sagarino-Vidad, gathered Bayambang’s Sangguniang Kabataan officials for the first-ever Youth Summit held on July 20, 2018 at the Balon Bayambang Events Center. With the youth comprising 76% of the town’s total population, the team thought it best to bring together the SK chairpersons and councilors from the 77 barangays to enlighten them about the current poverty situation of Bayambang and what they can do as young leaders to help solve the problem. The Youth Summit is a big step in the Local Government Unit’s Revolution against Poverty, a revolution led by Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao that aims to improve the quality of life of every Bayambangueño.

According to Atty. Sagarino-Vidad, the youth are important in government programs, especially in the fight against poverty, because age is on their side, they have innocence and creativity, and they have zest for life. “The role of the youth in our fight against poverty is, therefore, critical especially since you are the ones who shall inherit everything,” she added, noting that the youth today would be the politicians, doctors, engineers, writers, laborers, parents, and teachers of the future. Atty. Sagarino-Vidad also mentioned how national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida, and other influencers were able to make change happen at a young age, motivating and inspiring the young leaders that age is not a hindrance to achieving big things.

Municipal Employment Services Officer Dr. Joel T. Cayabyab compared the Revolution against Poverty to the biblical story of David and Goliath as he explained what the Bayambang Poverty Reduction Plan (BPRP) is. The giant Goliath, Dr. Cayabyab said, can be likened to the gargantuan problem that is poverty which can only be defeated by David, or the Bayambangueños, through the use of the BPRP. The BPRP contains a comprehensive set of plans that are aimed at eradicating poverty in Bayambang by 2028 by focusing on the areas of Socio-Cultural Development and Social Protection, Agricultural Modernization, Good Governance, Economic and Infrastructure Development, and Environmental Protection and Disaster Resiliency.

Community Affairs Officer Valentine Garcia presented results from the Community-Based Monitoring System data to the SK officials to show them the current status of the different barangays and the problems that they are currently facing so that they will know which projects to focus on, while Local Youth Development Officer Johnson R. Abalos talked about the role of the youth in the implementation of the BPRP.

Pangasinan Provincial Youth Development Officer Florence N. Berba discussed the history of SK and the officials’ functions in their respective barangays. “Ngayon first time na nabuhay ang SK organization this year, at sana tuloy-tuloy na ito kasi talagang kailangan ang mga kabataan para tumulong sa administrasyon para makatulong sa ating mamamayan,” Mayor Quiambao stated.

Mayor Quiambao shared that he first met Berba in 1993 when the son of then-Indonesian President Suharto gathered a group of young individuals to join a youth foundation in Indonesia. He recalled helping more than 30 Filipino youth to come to Indonesia where they impressed the son of the President with their leadership skills and initiative. “Dahil doon mayroon tayong proyekto na Metro Manila Skyway,” he proudly announced. “Naging tulay ang mga kabataan para mag-invest ‘yung anak ng president ng Indonesia sa Pilipinas,” he added, highlighting the role of the youth in community development.

Senior Tourism Operations Officer Rafael L. Saygo announced that the Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation, Inc. is willing to conduct free livelihood trainings in their respective barangays as long as they form a group with 25-30 members. He also announced that the Municipal Tourism Office has allotted budget for the planned Young Artists’ Association in Bayambang, an association that can help develop aspiring individuals or groups of artists, dancers, singers, and performers through the Bayambang Municipal Council for Culture and the Arts.
The Millennial Farmers’ Association of Bayambang was also launched during the program to encourage the young generation to engage in agriculture.

The SK officials participated in a workshop where they presented the problems in their respective districts and the solutions that they can do to solve them at their level, in the process displaying an impressive array of talents to convey their message. At the end, they collectively recited the “Panunumpa Laban sa Kahirapan” led by SK Federation President Gabriel Tristan Fernandez.

A total of 356 SK officials participated in the Youth Summit, showing that Bayambang’s youth leaders have a genuine desire to serve and proving the statement of Dr. Cayabyab that “Ang kabataang Bayambangueño ay susi sa pag-asenso.”