Pangasinan students undergo training on integrity development

ROSALES– Twenty six students from ten various secondary schools in Pangasinan underwent a five-day leadership training on integrity development conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman on May 23 to 27 in this town.

Luzon Deputy Ombudsman Gerard Mosquera said the training dubbed as “Young Leaders Integrity Development Camp” aims to develop the integrity of the chosen 8th and 9th public school students and promote among them the values of honesty in the government.

“Napakalaki ng halaga kapag ang gobyerno natin ay pinatatakbo ng mga honest at tapat sa kanilang tungkulin kaya importante na maumpisahan itong paglinang ng mga values na ito at earliest age as possible,” said Mosquera.

The 26 students were chosen from the 300 applicants who obtained an overall general average grade of 89 percent and grades per subject not lower than 85 percent during the preceding year.

Meanwhile, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Chito Gascon, who graced the leadership camp, told the students that in order to be a true leader they must always carry humility in their lives and learn to stand and fight for the change for good.

“We need to create a culture for active citizen’s participation both in terms for fighting for integrity and corruption as well as educate the youth to know their rights and be aware about governance so that they can expose abuses when it happens,” Gascon said.

During the training, participants were given insights on the following topics: governance, corruption, youth empowerment and volunteerism, leadership, awakening the youth’s role in the community, anti-corruption initiatives in the Philippines, effects of corruption, and integrity and honesty development.

The chosen participants were students from Alaminos City National High School, Bacar National High School, Benigno V. Aldana National High School, Cabuloan NHS, Juan Macaraeg NHS, Manaoag National High School, Mangaldan National High School, Mariano Q. Umipig NHS, Tayug National High School and Urdaneta City National High School. (PIA-1, Pangasinan)