The Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Regional Program Management Office successfully held the i-SHINE! Youth Summit 2024 in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte earlier today in celebration of National Children’s Month. The event gathered high school students from the city to inspire, empower, and equip them with essential life skills, including financial literacy.
The summit featured inspiring talks from key speakers, including Mr. Sigfrid Garwil Bugas, a former 4Ps beneficiary and Top 6 in the 2024 Social Worker Licensure Exam, who shared his journey and how 4Ps helped him overcome challenges. Maria Olive Seron, Pag-IBIG Fund Butuan Branch Head, discussed financial literacy, and Novavil Tubo, SWO III from the City Social Welfare Office, led a session on mental health awareness and coping strategies.
Ms. Cress Bemudez, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, highlighted that the summit aligned with the city’s goals of empowering youth to become positive agents of change. She emphasized that by providing young people with the knowledge and resilience they need, they can inspire others and create lasting impact in their communities.
The summit focused on six core pillars: INSPIRE (motivating youth to share their stories and dreams), SKILL-BUILD (equipping them with practical life and vocational skills), HEAL (promoting mental health awareness and coping strategies), INNOVATE (encouraging creativity and entrepreneurial thinking), NETWORK (building connections between participants, mentors, and community leaders), and EMPOWER (fostering leadership and advocacy to address youth issues).
With support from the Local Government Unit of Cabadbaran City, the Agusan del Norte Provincial Operations Office, and the City Operations Office, the event reflected the commitment of DSWD Caraga to extend vital services across the region. Further plans for expansion in order to reach more communities are planned in the future.
