Moreno encourages youth to participate in Oro governance

UNDER a new Moreno administration, the youth will have a greater role in shaping policy that will concern them.
Thus declared comebacking Cagayan de Oro City mayoral candidate Oscar Moreno during a meeting with college student leaders April 12.
The town hall held in barangay Consolacion was participated by students representing Xavier University, Liceo de Cagayan University, USTP, the RVM-owned Lourdes College and the Phinma-affiliated Cagayan de Oro College.
The student leaders expressed a wide range of concerns from their safety while off-campus to the status of the city scholarship program to lack of free study spaces.
In his response, Moreno offered to revitalize the Oro Youth Development Council and urged the youth to actively participate in it so their concerns would be addressed head on.
“Ang akong hangyo sa inyo is co-ownership of what we will craft. You have a big role to play as responsible young Kagay-anons,” Moreno told the inspired crowd who nodded in unison.
The former mayor – whose nine-year term Cagayan de Oro snatched the coveted most child-friendly highly urbanized LGU – especially emphasized their part in making the city a drug-free one.
“It is a huge challenge but I am confident that we can make it,” he continued.
Moreno also took note of the concerns of the students of free study spaces.
Cagayan de Oro tertiary schools host around 50,000 college students and most of them have to troop to cafes in shopping malls and order beverages just to study, thereby depleting their meager allowance.
Moreno said there is ample space beneath Rio de Oro boulevard to be converted as open study areas.
“Mahimo man kana, sementohon lang kana nga part and make it presentable,” he said.
Moreno also introduced educator and candidate for second district Councilor Ike Olandesca as the voice of the youth in the legislature.