The National Youth Commission. (NYC), and the Center for Students and Co Curricular Affairs (CSCA) of the Department of Education, with the support of the Kabataang Sama-Samang Maglilingkod (KASAMA), Inc. and other youth leaders, jointly designated Mr. Onemig Bondoc as Official Spoke spokesperson for Youth and Students to serve as its common representative to inspire youth and students alike to contribute in nation building.

Both NYC and the CSCA believe this move to be necessary and strategic because it will significantly initiate once again the desired attention to and efforts for the youth and students who are intentionally or unintentionally being marginalized in the decision making processes involved in resolving issues and problems confronting the country. There is a need, therefore, to highlight once again and remind our leaders and elders of the important role the youth and students of this country play in national development.

Both NYC Chairperson Mabel Villanca-Mamba, represented by Executive Director Cel Aves, and CSCA Executive Director Joey G. Pelaez agree that the youth and students should always take center stage in all efforts of the government towards growth and development because they are next in line to take the reigns of this county.

More importantly, however, both NYC and CSCA admit that the role of Onemig Bondoc is necessary to drum up support for, and participation to, the programs, projects and activities of both agencies, and consequently lessen the exposure of our youth and students to vices and steer them away from drugs, smoking, drinking, sex, gambling and violence.

Mamba and. Pelaez said that the choice of Onemig Bondoc to represent the youth and students was based on the latter's meaningful accomplishments both in and out of showbusiness, solid integrity and inspiring character worth the emulation of our, young people. Onemig, apart from his continuing projects for the deprived and the underprivileged, has established, together with his parents, a private high school in Quezon City, a show window of the family's belief on the importance of education in the formation of responsible and responsive youth and students of the country.

Officials present during the press conference declaring Onemig Bondoc as official spokesperson for Youth and Students are Ms. Cel Aves, executive director of the National Youth Commission and Mr. Joey G. Pelaez executive director of the

DESIGNATING ONEMIG BONDOC AS OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FOR YOUTH AND STUDENTS .

RATIONAL / OBJECTIVES

The National Youth Commission (NYC), a Government agency In-charge of youth affairs in the country, and the Center for Students and Co-Curricular Affairs (CSCA), an office under the Department of Education in-charge of Co-curricular and students' affairs, with the support of the Kabataang Sama-Samang Maglilingkod, (KASAMA) Inc., and other youth headers, recognize the role of the youth and students in nation-building. While NYC is concerned about the welfare of the youth, ages 15 to 30 years, to include its various sub-sectors such as the out-of-school youth, in-school youth, working youth and special youth, and the CSCA is responsible for pupils and students, ages 6 to 16 years to include the out-of-school and special students, there is a need to consolidate each agency's concern for the youth and students to adequately address the growing issues, problems and gaps in the sector.

It is necessary, therefore, that all efforts of the national government in securing the welfare of this big constituency should be given paramount consideration without also undermining the support of private organizations and even of individuals in the common pursuit of youth and students' empowerment.

In this regard, the designation of a popular and young personality in show business as Official Spokesperson for Youth and Students based on meaningful accomplishments, solid integrity and inspiring character worth the emulation of our young people will significantly contribute in initiating desired attention to and efforts for our youth and students.

This advocacy aims to drum up support for, and participation to, the NYC and CSCA's programs, projects and activities, and consequently lessen the youth and students' exposure to vices and steer them away from drugs, smoking, drinking, sex, gambling and violence.

Designation

Pursuant, therefore, to the above rationale/objectives, the National Youth Commission and the Center for Students and Co-Curricular Affairs together with the Kabataang Sama-Samang Maglilingkod (KASAMA), Inc. and other youth leaders, jointly designate Mr. Onemig Bondoc as Official Spokesperson for Youth and Students.