Two programs on youth were showcased in the recent hosting of the 3rd Quarter Meeting of the Regional Youth Advisory Council (RYAC) by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office VI held last September 15, 2016.
The hiring of young engineers possibly aged 30 and below through the creation of the 1,394 Engineer II permanent positions and the conduct of the Cadet Engineer Program (CEP) were among those discussed by Ray Adrian C. Macalalag, Engineer II of the Planning and Design Division and Youth Focal Person of this Office.
The DPWH Regional Office VI alone was assigned 14 Engineer II positions last May 2015 which specifically required applicants to be not more than 30 years old.
It was further enhanced by the then Secretary Rogelio L. Singson who appealed to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for the lifting of the required four hours of training and one year experience to ensure that academically qualified fresh graduates will be hired. This was granted per CSC Resolution No. 1501502 promulgated on December 18, 2015.
Meanwhile, the CEP is a special program of the Department wherein 40 stringently selected applicants undergo rigorous training on the various operations of DPWH for six months.
The Regional Youth Advisory Council has been organized by the National Youth Commission (NYC) under the Office of the President as the regional counterpart in the National Advisory Council at the National Level. Its functions include advisory and consultative bodies on matters relating to youth affairs, welfare, and development.
Former NYC Commissioner for Visayas, Assistant Secretary Jo Jan Paul J. Peñol, was among the attendees.
The meeting was attended by member agencies and institutions, including BJMP, CHEd, DA, DENR, DILG, DOH, DOLE, DOT, DPWH, NCIP, NEDA, NYC, PIA, PNP, PopCom, PSA, and TESDA in the government sector, the University of Iloilo and West Visayas State University in the education sector, and the PBS Radyo ng Bayan Iloilo in the media sector.
The hosting of this meeting was spearheaded by Macalalag with the support of the Office of the Regional Director, Office of the Assistant Regional Director, Regional Public Information Office, Human Resource and Administrative Division, and the Planning and Design Division.