LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of the Ilocos region will be organizing a youth summit to be held in March in San Fernando City in La Union.

This summit will be dubbed “Elevate, Engage, Empower: Youth Pioneers Shaping Peace and Development.”

This initiative focuses on nurturing the youth to become advocates of peacebuilding programs. It also aims to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to guide their peers toward the ultimate aspiration of a peaceful and economically independent region.

The RPOC recognizes the significant role of the youth and students in keeping peace and order in communities and campuses.

“With their youthful vibrance, energy, and skills, the youth and students are formidable partners of community leaders and school officials in creating harmonious relationships between and among neighbors, students, and stakeholders, that ensure freedom from all forms of threat, intimidation, coercion, and abuse,” said National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Assistant Regional Director Mae Olaita during the first quarter meeting of the council held in Ilocos Norte.

RPOC’s project comes in three phases which cover the launching of the summit, capacitating the youth, and rollout of the summit in the provinces.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region 1, will be the guest of honor and speaker during the event.

After gaining knowledge on the national security challenges and awareness on the various government programs for the youth, the participants will be urged to come up with a unified regional youth action plan for 2024-2026.

A pledge of commitment and singing of “Heal our Land” will also be conducted to further encourage continuing support and care of the youth for the nation.

Speakers from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) will give lectures on national security and youth development.

In 2022, Region 1 was the first to achieve stable internal peace and security in the country. (JCR/MJTAB/PIA Ilocos Norte)