In support to the implementation of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Opportunity 2.0 Program in Angeles City, DILG City Director Martin Porres B. Moral urged the Local Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation to ensure the provision of programs and services that will support the out-of-school youth on March 1 at Best Western Hotel, Balibago during the Youth Development Alliance (YDA) Consultative Assembly.

 "Part of your mandate is to contribute to nation-building," said CD Moral to the SK chairpersons during his opening message. "For developing countries like ours, ang tinitignan dito (nation-building) ay inclusive growth. Itong OSY ay subsector ng youth na dapat makasama sa pag-attain ng inclusive growth. Kapag sila ay natulungan para sila ay mas makapag-contribute sa inclusive growth, then nation-building starts."

To effectively analyze the most common reasons among youth for not attending school, CD Moral enjoined the SKs to establish their respective OSY database to accurately profile the target beneficiaries, formulate impactful programs, and monitor and evaluate success. He also emphasized the significance of the strong commitment of the youth leaders to achieve the objectives of Opportunity 2.0.

Further, the OSY database and all the related program materials which will be developed during the implementation of Opportunity 2.0 will be integrated in the DILG-AC Local Governance Resource Center, in partnership with the USAID-EDC, for dynamic and interactive knowledge sharing.

"The overall goal of the Opportunity 2.0 Program is to provide better education, employment and livelihood outcomes," explained EDC Youth Development Coordinator Miguel Paulo Mendoza during the overview of the activity.

Being members of the Angeles City YDA, the DILG-AC, USAID-Education Development Center (EDC), Angeles City Youth Development Office (ACYDO), National Youth Commission (NYC) and the AC-SK Federation also took part in commitment-setting during the consultative assembly to further strengthen their tie-up for the OSY.

Based on the identified youth issues from the stakeholders during the assembly, the ACYDA, as the primary implementor of USAID Opportunity 2.0 Program in the city, for its next step, will be conducting planning conferences to strategically design and carry out proper interventions to provide a second-chance opportunity for the OSY.