BY IME SORNITO & MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO – The Iloilo provincial government through Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has committed to restore the old building of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) located inside the Iloilo provincial capitol complex.
“Right now it is an old dilapidated building, it is old but beautiful. We will consider it as a heritage building of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. We will restore it to its former beauty and glory,” said Defensor during the grand opening ceremony of the 18th National Scout Jamboree in Passi City on Monday, Dec. 11.
The renovation work is expected to start in January next year.
“Once restored, you can use it as your office but as a matter of suggestion, we can also use it as a museum of your memories and the history of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines,” the governor told the participating scouts and scoutmasters.
The provincial government initially allotted a P7-million budget for the restoration. If needed, Defensor said they would get additional fund from the province’s 2024 budget.
The governor said he fully supports all programs and activities of the BSP as he had also been a boy scout.
Defensor added that scouting taught him good values essential for nation building.
Over 40,000 scouts and scoutmasters gathered at the Pintados de Passi Camp for the 18th National Scout Jamboree that will run until Sunday, Dec. 17.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the opening ceremony. He also took his oath as the new chief Boy Scout of the Philippines.
Under Section 4 of Republic Act no. 7278, “the President of the Philippines shall be the Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.”
This year’s national scout jamboree has the theme, “Youth Engagement: Sustaining Relevance and Strengthening Resilience.”
The occasion, which only happens every four years, aims to provide a progressive, exciting, challenging, safe, and enjoyable learning environment for the scouts. The goal is to enhance their full social, physical, intellectual, character, emotional and spiritual potentials as active citizens contributing towards making a better community./PN
