The Pasig City local government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched on Thursday, Sept. 15, Opportunity 2.0, a program aimed at giving second chance opportunities for out-of-school youth (OSY) in the city.
USAID’s Opportunity 2.0 is a five-year program that supports existing programs and mechanisms for OSYs, and mobilizes multiple sectors in education, livelihood, and employment of OSYs.
It aims to improve their education, training, as well as help them acquire work or start their own business enterprises by 2025.
The program was created in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Education Development Center (EDC), and the Pasig Youth Development Alliance (YDA).
The launch was held at the Banquet Hall of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig (PLP).
Among the esteemed guests and speakers were Dr. David Hall, the chief of party of USAID; Ryan Washburn, the USAID mission director to the Philippines, Pacific Islands, and Mongolia; G.H.S. Ambat, the assistant secretary for the Alternative Learning System (ALS) from the DepEd; District Director Leonardo Pinlac of TESDA (Pasig, Marikina, Mandaluyong, San Juan); Rechie Tugawin, Director V of the Office of the City Mayor - Education Unit; Councilor Quin Kin Cruz; and Dindo Dimalaluan, youth development coordinator of YDA.
In a recorded speech at the event, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto stressed the city as a constant “development partner of US AID throughout the years,” recognizing the programs and projects that have benefited Pasig citizens.
“Today, we witness the launch of a program that will provide more opportunities in education and livelihood for our marginalized and underprivileged young Pasiguenos; at the same time, boosting our local economy and businesses here in Pasig,” Sotto said.
“We look forward to hopefully scaling this up even more in the future. We share your vision and I believe that we are all here today because we have the common goal of wanting to uplift the lives of our out-of-school youth,” he added.
The event was concluded and solidified with the signing of the declaration of commitment by members of the Pasig Out-of-School YDA and US AID representatives.
The alliance will assume “responsibility to lead, integrate, and sustain collaborative efforts toward the empowerment and positive development of OSYs.”
The commitment covered the inclusion of OSYs as beneficiaries and legitimate members of the YDA, and the promotion of partnerships and advocacies in local policies for the benefit of OSYs.
The alliance agreed to provide access to services, and offer technical expertise and resources for Opportunity 2.0.
According to USAID, Opportunity 2.0 will benefit around 180,000 youth in 15 cities across the country.
These cities include Angeles, Valenzuela, Quezon, Pasig, and Legaspi for the National Capital Region (NCR) Hub; Cebu, Tagbiliran, Iloilo, Zamboanga, and Isabela for the Cebu Hub; and Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Davao, General Santos, and Cotabato for the Davao Hub.
The program has engaged with 2,200 employers and institutions, and trained 1,000 teachers, and 700 technical and vocational, or “tech-voc” trainers.