BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The youth play an important role on peace and development. PMSG Dwight Alexis Supsupin, adviser and pioneer of the Youth Mobile Force (YMF) Federation in the Cordillera, said that the young people play a significant role in peace and development or in effecting positive change, but they have to start within themselves first.
Supsupin said the youth must become aware of what is really happening and fact-check information especially those posted on social media.
“Malaki ang role ng kabataan for peace but first, kailangang maging aware sila doon sa mga nangyayari. Ang dami kasing kabataan ngayon, kung ano ang nabasa sa facebook, ‘yun na. Parang hindi nila binibigyan ng pagkakataon ang sarili nilang magbasa muna, na makinig muna,” he expressed.
Supsupin also emphasized that the youth must focus first on themselves and study hard until they become a successful and productive part of society. Once they become successful, they can effectively contribute to building a peaceful and progressive community, and promote positive change.
He added that it is also important for the youth to get involved and engage in initiatives and activities that promote peace and development instead of joining organizations that aim to take down the government. He clarified that there is nothing wrong with calling for change, but everything must start within themselves to effectively contribute to positive change.
“Ang pagbabago, nagsisimula ‘yan unang-una po sa sarili natin. Tingnan muna natin ang mga sarili natin sa loob ng bahay. Doon ang best reflection po natin. Tulungan muna natin ang mga sarili natin. Hindi po namin hinihiling sa mga kabataan na humawak kayo ng baril, humawak kayo ng bala, hindi po. Isa lang po ang hinahangad namin na kontribusyon ninyo para sa amin, ito po ‘yung mag-concentrate kayong magbasa, magsulat, mag-aral, ‘yun lamang po.”
He said that once young people finish their studies, they will not become a problem, instead, partners of the PNP in sustaining peace and development.
The YMF was initiated by the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 and was piloted in Bauko, Mountain Province in 2015. It was institutionalized in 2019 with the aim of guiding the youth so they would not be victimized by communist terrorist groups and become partners of the government in promoting peace and development. (DEG, PIA-CAR)
