MALACANANG, Philippines – President Benigno S. Aquino III led the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards ceremony held in Malacañang Palace on Tuesday to recognize the contributions of youth organizations to nation building.
In his speech, President Aquino said that as head of the country for the past four-and-a-half years, he has always known that he could not do much without the support of the people and other sectors.
“Sa nakalipas na mahigit apat at kalahating taon ng ating pamamahala, pinatunayan nating kapag mas marami tayong kumikilos, mas mabilis nating nakakamit ang ating hangarin,” he said.
“Dito ko nga naalala ang kaisipang ibinahagi sa akin: Kapag daw ang dunong ng mas nakakatanda at ang lakas ng kabataan ay nagsanib, talagang malayo ang ating mararating.”
After congratulating the winners of the TAYO awards, the President outlined the administration’s efforts to empower the youth to become more effective nation builders amid a strong economy.
He cited the Conditional Cash Transfer for High School Expansion program, which supports children of poor families until they reach 18 years old.
He reported that some 1.2 million students, aged 15 years old to 18 years old, are receiving assistance from the government so they could complete their high school education.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is also actively helping the youth, he added.
From July 2010 to December 2014, some 774,532 people graduated under TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), the President said, noting that their employment rate from April to September last year was registered at 96 percent.
“Ginagawa natin ang lahat ng ito upang iangat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga naghihikahos sa buhay. Sinasagad natin ang pagkakataon upang bigyan sila ng kakayahang tulungan ang mga sariling umasenso,” President Aquino said. According to the Chief Executive, the real challenge is for the country to sustain the gains and developments it has been enjoying.
“Paigtingin pa natin ang pagkakapit-bisig, at patibayin ang pundasyon ng isinusulong nating Pilipinas; isang bansa kung saan ang bawat isa ay may kakayahang tuparin ang inaasam niyang kinabukasan,” he said.
The winners of this year’s TAYO Awards were the Phi Lambda Delta Sorority; Kanlungan Pilipinas Movement; Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID); the Cauayan City National High School-Red Cross Youth and Junior Rescue Team; Katipunan ng mga Kabataang Santiagueňo; ACCESS-PYLP Alumni Association; Move This World-Pilipinas; Youth for Environment in School Organization; Indigenous Youth Servant Leaders Association of the Philippines; and the University of San Agustin Little Theater.
Apart from recognition, the winning organizations receive a specially commissioned trophy sculpted by Toym de Leon Imao, and a grant of P50,000 to fund new projects or continue their long-term programs.
The TAYO Awards was organized by the National Youth Commission, the TAYO Awards Foundation Inc., the EDSA People Power Commission, Coca-Cola Foundation, and Senator Bam Aquino.
Since its establishment in 2002, the TAYO Awards Foundation has recognized and supported the outstanding contributions of youth organizations to national development.
To date, more than a thousand youth organizations have joined the search and have become part of the foundation’s growing youth network.
This year’s awarding ceremony is part of the celebration of the 29th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution that will be commemorated on Wednesday, February 25.
PNoy honors youth organizations in 12th TAYO Awards
