TIGAON, CAMARINES SUR – The Department of Agriculture RFO 5 joined the celebration of the 21st International Youth Day through a simple dialogue and community pantry with some youth from several barangays of this town on August 13, 2021 at the VK’s farm.
Due to restrictions in mass gatherings, only 25 youths composed of officers and members of 4H clubs and high school students of Partido Agro Industrial High School in Tigaon were invited to participate in the halfday activity.
Dr. Mary Grace Rodriguez, chief of the Field Operations Division distributed a total of P167,500.00 worth of vegetable seeds, garden tools and IEC materials for the participating youths and the indigenous people’s community in barangay Tinawagan.
She encouraged the youth to get involved in the activities of the government and to be involved in agriculture or backyard farming as human resource is the most important asset of the country and staying fit through consumption of healthy foods is one way of helping our government.
As most of the youth attendees are children of farmers, Dr. Rodriguez hopes that the farm tools they received will be useful in their parents’ farm works.
One participant, Jessa Balladares said that the farm tools are a big help to her parents as they do not have even simple tools in the farm.
Marlo P. Ilagan said that this pandemic has been difficult for him as he can only go outside of his house when going to the farm. He missed going to the school with his fellow children to learn and bond with them.
August 12 of every year is declared as International Youth Day. In 1998, the delegations of World Conference of Ministers of Youth in Lisbon recommended to the United Nations to proclaim August 12 as an International Youth Day to celebrate and mainstream young people’s voices, actions and initiatives and engagement in the promotion of agriculture, sustainable value chains and healthy lifestyles.
This year’s theme, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, highlights the success of global efforts through the meaningful participation of young people. (Lovella P. Guarin / photo credit: Zandra Abogado DA-RAFIS 5)