Noble cause for out-of-school youths a success

ALAMINOS City - "Let us continue to adopt the policy of cooperation and oneness to serve best our youth and constituents.

This was the gist of Cong. Arthur F. Celeste message to the more than two thousand participants of the 30th edition of the Alay Lakad held in this city last Wednesday.

The walkers, which comprise the cross section of the city, converged in front of the city hall as early as 6 o' clock in the morning to join Mayor Eduardo F. Fontelera, the city government and Cong. Celeste, this year's guest of honor and speaker, in this very noble endeavor for the Out of School Youths (OSYs).

Observers, who woke upon early to witness the said event along the national road going to Lucap district, said that the number of participants have substantially increased compared to the previous years of staging this undertaking.

A short but very meaningful program was held at Lucap Wharf, overlooking the world famous Hundred Islands National Park, right after the five-kilometer and 40-minute walk.

Mr. Delfin Rosario, Pres. of Alay Lakad Foundation, Inc. Alaminos Chapter, rendered his words of welcome to all participants and shared a brief background of the said worthy cause for the OSYs.

Launched in 1972, the Alay Lakad according to Rosario has two main objectives. One, to create awareness among the public on the increasing plight of the OSYs and raise funds to finance various livelihood projects and worthy initiatives for this deprived members of the youth sector in the country.

Mayor Fontelera, on the other hand, enjoined his co-workers for the development of the city of continue extending their fare share in helping the infant city attain sustainable development and progress.

The dynamic chief executive also thanked all participants for their cooperation and utmost concern for the youth in the city even as he lauded Cong Celeste's current initiatives for the youth in the first district.

"I know that you are as much concerned as we are in the local government to our out of school youth that you made this annual event the most successful and very remarkable event not only for the youth but for all of us who made this happen," the mayor added.

As an added feature for the said affair the students of Great Plebian College and Saint Joseph Cathedral School as well as employees of the city LGU performed some entertainment numbers to the delight of the crowd.

Bigwigs of the day - Congressman Arthur F. Celeste (right) with Judge Jules Mejia, Mayor Eduardo F. Fontelera and Cris Militanta BIR District Officer takes some breather as Lucap Wharf before the start of the program for the recently concluded Alay Lakad 2002 held here.

As among the highlights of the program, Mayor Fontelera was the awarded a plaque of appreciation coming from Bureau of Internal Revenue Alaminos District for the former's valuable contributions this government agency in the efficient collection and service to the city people. While Cong Celeste also handed P 10,000 to the Alay Lakad Foundation.

Vice Mayor Teofilo G Humilde, Jr. the concurrent Exe Vice Pres. of Pangasinan Vice Mayors League was tasked to introduce the guest of honor and speaker.

Celeste stressed in his speech that the said undertaking is in a way parallel to his current thrusts for the youth in the western Pangasinan.

We have a plan and noble mission for the OSYs and this walk for a cause is certainly one of the many ways to uplift the welfare of this sector for them to become worthy citizens of our communities, he said.

The truth is, this undertaking is in line with my initiative for the youth. Through our Kalinga sa Barangay Scholarship Program, we were able to send 600 youth in the district to college and start building their brighter future.

Celeste revealed that he had allotted P 3M from this CDF to finance the schooling of these poor but deserving students and on Oct 6, at the Don Leopoldo Sison Auditorium these scholars will be receiving their cheque.

Education is nothing without a sound mind and body, so your humble servant has also allocated P 3M for the health and insurance coverage of at least 9,000 indigent families in the whole district to the PhilHealth, he said.

The youthful congressman also pledged to extend P 50,000 worth of projects intended for the youth of each of the thirty-nine barangays in this city.

Engr. Mario Mabalot, the City Administrator, in his closing remarks, disclosed that the event has raised P 21,000. He also thanked different organizations or entities that took part in the said undertaking as he urged other groups to settle their obligations to the Alay Lakad Foundation.

Among the participant who joined this annual event were the National and Local Government Offices, Banking Institutions, the academe, NGOs and POs, the city LGU, SKs and barangay councils as well as the religious sector.