INTRODUCTION:

PROMOTING CULTURAL TOURISM INVOLVING OUT-OF SCHOOL YOUTH As per the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), there are almost 16 million Filipinos who are youth sector of whom 1.7 million are neither in the labor force nor in school. Almost half of all unemployed workers in the Philippines belong to the 15-24 years of age. Due to the rising percentage of Out Of School Youth (OSY), there is a need to present a range of opportunities to help young people not only in our city today but also in rural areas. Programs, projects and other trainings with linkages from various agencies and inter-agencies to become self-reliant, develop, improve and promote their skills and talents for future employment opportunities. Hence, they will become active participants in a productive economy. We believe that by using human resources, enabling the youth sector providing skills training towards employment can be best tool in poverty reduction. Statistical abstract, 39% of the Philippines youth are not in school and these youths receive no training for responsible parenthood and community life. A number of agencies try to reach these members of society, including the Bureau of Youth Welfare (BYW), the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), the Foundation for Youth Development in the Philippines (FYDP), the Rizal Youth Development Foundation (RYDF), the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), and the Philippine Youth Welfare Coordinating Committee. BYW conducts informal group sessions including discussions among 13-24 year old members who have started self-employment projects. FPOP's youth program, SIGLA, aims at developing out-of-school youths social y and having them disseminate information to other out of school youths. This information includes family development, family planning, and population-related information, and is disseminated through activities and workshops. FYDP aims at functional literacy but also disseminates family planning information to out-of-school youths. RYDF conducts week-long seminars in topics such as birth processes, family relations, and care of babies. PRRM integrates population and family planning into its non-formal education program for out-of-school youth and adults in Nueva Ecija Province. Problems encountered in these programs are 1) suspicion of parents, and 2) feelings of inadequacy on the part of teachers. While emphasis has been on unemployed youth, efforts should be made to reach those youth who are employed. The brightest hope for Out-of School Youth are tremendously increasing both from national and international agencies. I. The US Agency for International Development (USAid) said it would expand its programs for out-of-school youth in Mindanao and other areas most affected by conflicts and poverty. The Washington DC-based agency, which celebrated on November 3 its 50th anniversary of involvement in the Philippines, pledged to actively implement its Investing in People programs in the country. This would include support for many education and health initiatives as well as programs to expand and improve opportunities for about 100,000 out-ofschool youth in areas most affected by conflicts and poverty. USAid noted that public education in the Philippines faces large-scale shortages of teachers, desks and chairs, textbooks, and audio-video materials. Overcrowded classrooms are common with class sizes averaging almost 45 students. The education system is hampered by inadequate teacher training programs and a declining per capita expenditure. Dropout rates in basic education are high, whole completion rates are low. These problems are particularly acute in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao, where there are as many school-age children and youth who are out of school as those in school, it observed.

In cooperation with international and local private sector and civil society groups, USAid supports community involvement in education, improvement of instructional quality, provision of computers and educational materials, construction and repair of classrooms, technical assistance to improve policies and the implementation of school programs, and livelihood skills training for out-of-school youth, it stated. II. LIM GAVE EDUCATION FOR ALL IN MANILA

*Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim said had given free education to Manilans addressing a forum at the PUP College of Arts and Sciences entitled 10 days and 10 voices: Education Platform 2010, Lim boasted that Manila started the zero fee education at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and the City College of Manila during his 1st incumbency in 1992 which was eventually copied by other cities in Metro Manila. *Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim yesterday, led Manilans in celebrating 25 rewarding years promoting youth welfare, development and empowerment through the citys Youth Development & Welfare Bureau (YWDB). Several activities including on-the-spot drawing contest, dance, singing, and original musical composition competitions were organized by the youth bureau to further enhance the talents and interests of the citys youth. Exhibits, services and demo booths which highlighted Filipino values, culture, arts, heritage, environmental awareness and livelihood undertakings were put up at the Bonifacio Shrine grounds in cooperation with partner agencies namely, the National Library, Museo Pambata, Philippine Coast Guard, National Historical Institute, Philippine National Red Cross, and other city government departments and offices. http://www.manila.gov.ph/pressrelease2010.htm PRESS RELEASE Manila Media Bureau September 5, 2010