South Leyte youth group wins national award

By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern Leyte)
November 6, 2007

HINUNANGAN, Southern Leyte  –  An organization of young people, mostly out-of-school youths (OSYs), which was formed just about a year ago, landed fourth place in the nationwide search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO) award.

According to Edgar Bayano, the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) here, the “Silak sa Kauswagan Youth Organization” (SAKAYAN) , whose area of operation was based in barangay Tahusan, this town, garnered the award for their project entry “Tahusan Smile.”

The awarding ceremony was held October 22 at the Hotel Intercontinental, Manila, Bayano told PIA in a chance visit to the office last week.

SAKAYAN was headed by Benjamin Bengalong, a youth leader, with about 60 members, ages ranging from 15 to 30, mostly OSYs.

It was not immediately known what were the contents of “Tahusan Smile”, the entry that earned for the group the distinction of being included among the top ten, fourth place in particular, active youth organizations in the country.

But Bayano affirmed the youth group has been active in socio-civic activities in their place and has, in fact, been consistently helped by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in many of their major undertakings.

For bagging the fourth prize, SAKAYAN received P50,000 plus an all-expense trip of the presentor from the point of origin to Manila , and a chance of the youth leaders to join the Asean Youth Cruise, Bayano disclosed.