ILOILO City – Mayor Jose Espinosa III appointed a defeated candidate for president of the city’s Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation as his executive assistant (EA) for youth and sports.
Maria Antoinette Gallos resigned as SK chairperson of Barangay Ingore, La Paz district to take on a much bigger role for city city’s youth.
“She is a very active individual, has good rapport with the youth and has good leadership qualities. Kanugon sang iya serbisyo kon indi naton makuha,” said Espinosa.
The mayor saw no conflict between his EA for youth and sports Gallo and the SK federation chairperson, Leila Luntao.
The SK federation chairperson is an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), said Espinosa, thus her function would be more on local legislation.
Luntao defeated Gallo in the SK federation election last month.
There should be coordination between his EA and the SK, Espinosa stressed.
Under the Local Government Code, the SK federation president automatically chairs the SP committee on sports and youth development.
Espinosa said Gallos would be working hand and hand with Local Youth and Development Office (LYDO) head Jason Gregorio on various programs and projects pertaining to the city’s youth.
The city government will be launching the youth program “Just Say No To Drugs” soon.
“We will be going to schools and barangays to showcase the antidrug advocacy of the city government,” said Espinosa.
Gallos would also be working on the recently launched city sports program “Palarong Panlungsod.”
“The youth should divert their attention to sports activities and not to illegal drugs and barkada,” said Espinosa./PN
