KORONADAL CITY –August 25,2025 The Linggo ng Kabataan 2025, observed from August 22 to 24, placed the spotlight on six Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at empowering young people to take part in nation-building. Anchored on the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” the three-day celebration featured capacity-building activities and community engagements designed to strengthen the role of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in advancing sustainable development at the local level.
The celebration also underscored the alignment of SK initiatives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly on quality education, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, climate action, peace, justice and strong institutions, and partnerships for the goals. By integrating these global priorities into local youth programs, the province seeks to ensure that South Cotabato’s young leaders are not only responsive to community needs but also contributors to broader sustainable development efforts.
This year’s Linggo ng Kabataan departed from the usual sports competitions, offering instead a more diverse lineup of seminars, training sessions, and cultural showcases participated in by Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members across South Cotabato. The activities aimed to build stronger relationships among SK leaders, assess their current situations, and provide them with new knowledge and skills.
Board Member Vincent Figueroa, who chairs the Committee on Youth Development, emphasized that the initiative is designed to sustain a steady pool of capable leaders in the province.
“We cannot give what we do not have. If we do not train our SKs well, we cannot expect good governance,” Figueroa said.
He stressed the need to strengthen the foundation of the youth, particularly their understanding of local governance, which aligns with the mandate of Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. to focus on youth development as a way of ensuring quality public service for future generations.
Figueroa also revealed plans to prioritize the drafting of a Youth Code and a five-year Local Youth Development Plan, in coordination with SK leaders from different municipalities. These efforts, he said, will pave the way for more youth-centered programs and policies in the province.
“With unity, protection, and respect for one another—and with the full support of the provincial government under Governor Tamayo—nothing is impossible in delivering the services that our Sangguniang Kabataan deserve,” he added.
