Presentation contains results of the project, "The Youth Agenda: Localizing Discussions in the KDCs on Priority Issues and Concerns of the Youth Beyond the May 2016 Elections". Presented during the Knowledge for Development Community, World Bank Philippines, April 8, 2016.

1. The Youth Agenda
Localizing Discussions in the KDC on Priority Issues and
Concerns of the Youth Beyond the May 2016 Elections

2. SummarySummary
• Objectives
• Engagement Mechanism
• Project Video
• Matrix of Responses
• Website
• Reflections
• Recommendations

3. ObjectivesObjectives
• Provide a local perspective to
common issues of the youth in three
major areas: (a) education, (b)
employment, and (c) environment.
• Surface priority issues and concerns
outside the three major areas
• Validate/Identify mechanisms of youth
engagement
• Enrich understanding of variables
that influence youth prioritization of
issues and concerns through varied
social lenses
• Develop a more comprehensive
youth agenda for KDC ownership and
endorsement to government

4. Engagement MechanismEngagement Mechanism
• Mix of In-School & Out-of-School
• Leveling of Expectations
• Roundtable Discussion (Q&A)
• Group Reflections
• Brief Lectures

6. General Questions

7. What is your dream for the Philippines? What do you
want it to become beyond the May 2016 elections?
SPUP SU WMSU
Crime-free; peaceful
and united
Peace and order
Unity among Christians,
Muslims, Lumads and
other IPs
Educated youth
Improved education
quality
Competent and highly
skilled youth
Healthcare for all
Equality; no homeless
and beggars
Decentralized
development
Increased agricultural
development (farm-to-
market roads
Better roads in
Mindanao
Alternative sources of
energy

8. What issues and concerns do you think should
government give more attention to beyond the May
2016 elections?
SPUP SU WMSU
Child labor
Healthcare
inaccessibility
Worsening conditions
for minorities and
marginalized sectors
Early marriages
Luzon-centric
opportunities
HIV
Drug addiction
Basic education quality
review
Unequal distribution of
opportunities
(racial/religious
discrimination)

9. What do you think is the role of the youth in the
development of the country?
SPUP SU WMSU
Living monument Model to other youth Strong influence
Change makers;
engaged
Proactive citizens;
responsible Net users
Aware and involved
Humble Disciplined Cause-oriented

10. Do you think the youth have fulfilled their role?
SPUP SU WMSU
Slowly fulfilling but need
for character formation
and discipline
Gradually improving,
moderately evolving;
still apathetic
Partly; Struggling to
understand themselves
and being hindered by
gender roles

11. To what extent do you feel engaged by government
in development processes” Do you feel valued as a
sector?
SPUP SU WMSU
Yes — ALS for OSY
Yes — scholarships in
state universities, LGU
programs and support
for the youth
Yes — privileges of
education and
healthcare; programs
and projects for the
youth
Not so much engaged
— no venue for
participation in
dialogues and
discussions
No — not feel anything;
youth is being used for
corruption and politics
(SK)
No — valued only in
times of election; not
consulted on results of
development processes

12. What do you think can government do to encourage
your active participation in development processes?
SPUP SU WMSU
Provide budget and
support to youth
organizations
Initiate ways of
empowering us and
sustaining engagement
Conduct training and
awareness programs
for the youth
Clean government;
elected leaders to serve
as models
Have a truthful
government; show
genuine intentions for
the best of the country
— not disappoint us
Cascade information to
grassroots communities

13. Are there solutions to some of the country’s problems
that you think have not been pursued yet? What
would these be and what can you do to realize them?
SPUP SU WMSU
Micro-social enterprise
for vulnerable sectors
(youth, mothers, OSY)
Traffic — increase mass
transit; start even in
small urban areas
Fast-track approval of
the BBL
Establish a youth group
in every barangay
Equitable taxation —
tax more higher income
Establish and increase
access to rehab
facilities

14. Education

15. What is your idea of education?
How important is it to you?
How important is it to you?
SPUP SU WMSU
Tool to uplift the lives of
others
Education is key to
eradicating poverty
Skills acquisition, apart
from theories

16. Are you satisfied with the quality of education
in the country?
in the country?
SPUP SU WMSU
Yes — education has
contributed to growth of
the country; ALS for
OSY; scholarships
availablee but many are
lazy
Yes — because of good
basic ed training, even
from public school
Yes — but facilities in
public schools are
lacking and not at par
with private schools;
scholarships cover
tuition but not misc and
subsistence allowance
No — not enough
opportunities to pursue
formal education
No — some teachers
are lazy; poor learning
in some public schools;
teachers use the
vernacular
No — poor access in
far-flung areas; site
planning hazardous to
health of elementary
pupils

17. Why do you think there is a high drop-out rate? What
prevents the youth from pursuing formal education in
your own community/region?
SPUP SU WMSU
Financial — better work
and earn; breadwinner
Poverty — absence of
food discourages them
from schooling
Safety and security —
danger of schooling at
night
Early pregnancy; drug
addiction
Family — over-reliance
on family wealth; weak
support system
Academic schedule
need to accommodate
more working youth
Teacher bias; humiliate
students
High cost of school
materials; absence of
preferred courses

18. Based on what your experience or observation in your
community or region, what are the other problems
related to education that need to be addressed?
SPUP SU WMSU
Lack of qualified
teachers; weak
commitment in ALS
Too much focus on
grades — not essence
of education
Limited access to
scholarships
Bullying, peer pressure Parental neglect

19. Why do you think these programs persist? What
needs to be done to address them?
SPUP SU WMSU
Inequitable distribution
of resources among
public schools in rural
areas
Misplaced prioritization;
mindset of fun
Lack of collaboration
among sectors;
integrate social media
as a platform to
generate ideas for
solutions
Multi-sectoral approach
to creating solutions
Tighten peer-to-peer
support system

20. Do you feel empowered or engaged in addressing
education-related problems as an individual? As a
youth sector — do you feel represented?
SPUP SU WMSU
Yes — voice out
thoughts on critical
issues; give encourage
to other OSY to study
Yes — relevant laws in
place but not invoked,
implemented; K+12
voucher system; Project
Agakay
Yes — but work with
others
Broaden community
engagement
Increase youth
involvement in planning
process
Not proper
representation — youth
to represent, not
politicians (prostitution
of youth continues after
Zamboanga siege);
poor compliance with
standards set for youth
organizations

21. What do you think is missing today in addressing the
problem of education?
SPUP SU WMSU
Lack of commitment
and emphatic leaders
Poor implementation of
education programs
Inconsistency in
implementation
Poor sense of
community
Lack of networking
between youth and
government; no
coordination
Lack of
complementation;
government
bureaucracy

22. What do you think should the next Administration do
to address these problems in your community or
region?
SPUP SU WMSU
Sense of focus —
prioritize
Create long-term plan
with goals and targets
— and follow it
Invest in science and
technology and
research; haste
Increase efficiency in
budget allocation
Gather information
regarding the state of
the youth in provinces
Hasten action; address
at grassroots level

23. When can you say that we have been successful in
addressing education problems?
SPUP SU WMSU
Increased literary rate No more OSY
No more OSY and
unemployed
Isolated areas acquire
necessary technologies
Build-up of trust in
government
More tangible projects
with felt impact

24. Employment

25. What jobs fit the youth of today? What is the ideal job
for young people?
SPUP SU WMSU
Agriculturists Computer-related
Service workers
(waiters, bartenders.
etc)
Technology-based Frontliners Call center agents
Call center agents
Social media
influencers

26. Do you think these jobs are available to the youth in
your community/region?
SPUP SU WMSU
Yes — Cagayan Valley
has vast farmlands
Yes — if you look for it,
you’ll find it
Yes

27. How confident are you that you will get that kind of
job?
SPUP SU WMSU
No — without education
how?
Enough job
opportunities but don't
meet people standards
Yes

28. Do you think there’s enough job opportunities outside
your community/region?
SPUP SU WMSU
Yes — Manila mentality Yes. Yes

29. Can you say that the available job opportunities meet
your expectations and skills?
SPUP SU WMSU
No — forced to work
because of salary; not-
so decent jobs that
don’t meet expectations
No — low-paying, not
enough to provide for
needs
Yes

30. What do you think is the cause of high
unemployment?
SPUP SU WMSU
Over supply from
certain courses but low
availability
“Palakasan” system Job-skill mismatch
Unmet qualifications
People lazy and spoiled
(Pantawid Pamilya)
Lack of interest and
confidence
Luzon/Manila-centered
Career preference vs
job preference

31. Why is unemployment unresolved?
SPUP SU WMSU
Overpopulation
Disparity in availability
of jobs with population
Experience requirement
prevents fresh grads
from getting employed
Padrino system Mañana habit High job standards
Corruption Government corruption

32. What do you think should the next Administration do
to address this problem?
SPUP SU WMSU
Generate more foreign
investments into the
country
Incentivize companies
that hire more; consider
lower taxes for foreign
investments
Address job-skills
mismatch
Increase wages;
provide more training
Focus on what the
country is strong in or
known for — agriculture
Ensure employment for
fresh graduates

33. What can you contribute to addressing this problem?
SPUP SU WMSU
Improve self Career orientation
Learn more about job
requirements
Lobby concerns

34. How do you want to be engaged in addressing
unemployment?
SPUP SU WMSU
Educational livelihood in
isolated areas
Pay forward — scholars
now fund future
scholars
Lobby youth agenda
Fight ‘kapit-kapit’
system
Eliminate crab mentality
Actively participate in
job fairs; engage
employers

35. Environment

36. In what way are you concerned about the
environment?
SPUP SU WMSU
Modeling of good
actions; act not only
when hit
Promotion of 3Rs Pursue conservation

37. Do you think that the youth are concerned about the
environment?
SPUP SU WMSU
No — lack strong
connection to issue;
“malakas ang kalaban”
No — there are some
organizations but efforts
not sustained
No — simple
environmental issues
unresolved; contribute
to pollution
Yes — interest in
environmental research

38. Do you think that government and other sectors are
concerned about the environment?
SPUP SU WMSU
Yes — but not enough;
act and refuse ‘suhol’;
weak implementation
Yes — schools require
tree planting; strong
LGU environmental
programs (waste
disposal, plastics)
Yes — but businesses
and industries
contribute to pollution;
faithful implementation
needed

39. What are the pressing environmental problems that
you think need great attention?
SPUP SU WMSU
Climate change Endangered species Climate change
Solid waste
management
Waste management
Lack of government
action
Pollution Air pollution Pollution
Illegal fishing Mining, oil spills

40. How would you rank these environmental problems in
terms of gravity and need for solution?
SPUP SU WMSU
Illegal mining Waste management
Air pollution (go
renewable)
Dynamite fishing Air pollution
Solid waste
management
Drainage
Pollution

41. Why do these problems persist?
SPUP SU WMSU
Citizens’ lack of care
and concern
Government improves
economy without view
of impact on
environment
Lack of discipline,
knowledge
Poor enforcement
Weak implementation of
laws
Lack of monitoring
Inefficient leaders Lack of commitment

42. What have we to do or have not done in addressing
them?
SPUP SU WMSU
Be one with government
Drum up noise through
youth-oriented activities
Lack of youth action but
blames government
easily
Be involved Poor information relay
Lack of investment in
research
Government projects
lack environmental
component

43. What have we succeeded in doing?
SPUP SU WMSU
3Rs Recycling projects
Relevant city
ordinances
New DENR laws —
weak teeth
Anti-illegal logging
campaigns
Gardening in schools;
tree planting

44. What can you suggest to the next Administration to
address these problems?
SPUP SU WMSU
Strengthen
environmental
education in HEIs and
ALS
Think of environmental
consequences in long-
term development
planning
Invest in research and
offer grants
Establish tougher
penalties
Strict regulation on use
of plastics
Widen scope of
awareness campaigns

45. http://kdcyouthagenda.comxa.com

46. Reflections

47. ReflectionsReflections
• Youth see potential and appreciate
government — just not enough
• Being “heard” and “listened to” is a
value in itself
• Youth engagement inspires better
youth involvement and dynamism
• Perception prevails that youth
engagement is Manila-centered,
elitist/non-inclusive, overwhelming to
vulnerable sectors
• Lack of bottom-up youth engagement
mechanisms
• Limited participation in the
development cycle

48. RecommendationsRecommendations
• Consider implementing similar
youth discussions in other KDCs
(using the same format)
• Synthesize and collate
responses
• Develop a social media platform
for wider youth exchange (start
with KDcs)
• Adopt expanded “Youth
Agenda” for endorsement to
NYC