A Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) is a government committee focused on youth issues. It is a government administrative organ for comprehensive youth development. The LYDC’s concerns encompasses youth from all walks of life: out-of-school youth, in-school youth, working youth, and youth with special needs. It is a significant youth policy because it forms an alternative channel for youth to participate in politics.

The local chief executive heads the council as chairperson and appoints the various department heads as its members. It is akin to the various committees including women, investments and tourism and peace and order.  The unique feature of the LYDC in youth engagement is the inclusion of youth volunteers from the various walks of life to take part in the meetings and decision making process as a committee member. This is significant as it allows the youth’s voice and issues to be immediately reached in government units and department heads. The said youth committee members are representatives from youth organizations.

Across the nation, the formation of LYDCs is spearheaded by the National Youth Commission (NYC) in municipalities and provinces across the archipelago. In Region XI, the provinces of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley as well as the cities of Tagum and Panabo are already running their respective LYDCs. In Davao del Sur, the urgency of creating a specialized youth committee is important for youth participation in governance. As the issues of the AIDS pandemic, educational funding and SK abolition come to the fore, it is high time that the youth of Davao del Sur become politically empowered beyond organizing basketball tournaments. The youth also need to be included in important administrative affairs in the provincial government and subsequently in her component municipalities.

In order for this policy to be established, the best solution is that the Sangguniang Panglalawigan pass an ordinance solidifying and instituting the committee. At the minimum the establishment can be accomplished by an executive order from the governor’s office. Through signing our petition we hope you can support our cause and establish a pro-youth agenda within the province. We also hope that you can extend your support in social media through the hashtag #PYDC in facebook, twitter and instagram or even by organizing your own signature campaign by printing your own brochure and cajoling your networks. We are found online and hope that you can pester our board members to cave in to our demands.