The youth-led organization GoodGovPH will commence the digital event Good Governance Conference or also known as GoodGovCon conveyed with the theme “Mabuting Pamamahala para sa Bayan” with partnerships with different media and organizations. Through the video communications app Zoom, with the accommodation of 160 delegates who are recognized as youth leaders, the formal meeting for discussion is happening in 4 days: 21, 22, 25, and 28. Also, it will be live-streamed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodGovCon/.

The imparted aim is to assemble and engage the youth in the awareness about good governance, societal issues, and to prompt the youth in active participation in the society. There will be several guest speakers. The government officials, the private sector, the academe, and civil society organizations will participate to discuss topics and to provide training about the specified matters in the activities which are plenary, breakout sessions, and midweek mentorship.

The closing keynote speaker is Vice President Leni Robredo. For the opening, Dexter Arvin Yang, the GoodGovPH founder of San Pablo Youth Development Council and YSEALI & National Youth Parliament, will take on the remarks while the keynote will feature Cong. Sarah Elago—a member of the House of Representatives from the Kabataan Partylist and Hon. Ziaur-Rahman Alonto Adiong—a member of the Parliament from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

The plenary is divided into 2 days. On 21, it will talk about participatory democracy by Czarina Medina-Guce—UNDP (Governance Specialist), transparency, and accountability by Atty. Kris Ablan—PCOO (Assistant Secretary), human rights and rule of law by Atty. Marco Antonio Luisito Villanueva Sardillo III—PCGG (Former Executive Director) and Intramuros Administration (Administrator). On 22, it will talk about solving public problems through civic campaigns with Kenneth Abante and Team—Move As One Coalition (Coordinator) and maximizing youth participation in local governance with Dexter Arvin Yang.

In the breakout sessions, the delegates will propose solutions for the sectoral issues to be used for the ActivateGov Project Pitching. The sectors to be presented in the breakout sessions are education with Angel Ramos—Teach for the Philippines (Marketing and Events Director), health with Dr. Beverly Ho—DOH (Director IV Health Promotion and Communications Office) and Dr. Noel Bernardo—Doctors to the Barrios (Municipal Health Officer – Sabtang Batanes President), the economy with Senator Francis Pangilinan—Senate of the Philippines, Sonny Africa—Ibon Foundation (Executive Director), and Assoc. Prof. Carlos L. Manapat, DBA—AB Economics UST (Department Chair), and the environment with Atty. Tony La Viña—Ateneo School of Governance (Professor and Former Dean), Prof. Kristoffer Berse, Ph.D.—UP Resilience Institute (Director for Research and Creative Work) and UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (Assoc. Professor), and Yeb Saño—Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Executive Director).

On 25, midweek session activity will happen with sectoral mentors Reinald Jay Tena Belen of Education—Teach for the Philippines (Alumni Ambassador) of the Department of Education Central Office, Alyannah Lagasca of Health—Youth for Mental Health, Coalition Inc. (National Secretary), Mr. Jefferson Estela of Environment—Youth Strike 4 Climate Philippines (Lead Convenor & Co-Founder) and Ms. Patricia Evite of Finance—Ekonsepto PH (Founder) of the Department of Finance. Delegates will also have a chance to be taught by SK mentors John Carlo Borja—Brgy. Calumpang Rizal (SK Chairperson) and Ideas Positive (Chief Youth Mobilizer) from YSEALI, Chesca Persia—Rizal (SK Kagawad) and Zero Hunger PH (Founder), and Hannah Beatriz Cabral—SK Affairs (National Director) from Kabataang Lingkod Bayad ng Pilipinas. It will also have Dexter Yang, Paul Roset—Youth Parliamentarians of Laguna (Chairperson), and Samuel Madriaga—Alliance of Public Health Advocates (Founder) as the Civic Action and Lobbying Mentors.

Initiated by GoodGovPH, the organization was founded in 2019 and consists of the country’s hundred volunteers of young civil servants, professionals, and student leaders to front the youth-led movement. So far, some of their achievements are partnerships with over 50 organizations, an online network of over 800 people, 20 project implementations, etc.

“Out of over 800 entries, GoodGovPH was selected as one of the Top 20 National Finalists for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards,” GoodGovPH stated. Previously, it has been featured on several known media such as InqPOP!, CNN Philippines Life, When in Manila, and Now You Know PH. To learn more about GoodGovPH, interested viewers may check the website https://goodgov.ph/.