By Lilian Mellejor (PNA)
DAVAO CITY – For the first time, this city will host this year’s Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP) on November 17–20.
Some 320 youth delegates from the member-countries of the Association Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as Japan, will arrive in this city via the cruise ship, MS Nippon Maru, said Steve Arquiza, the former commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NYC), during Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Annex.
Twenty-eight Filipino delegates will also join their colleagues in sailing to Japan, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, and Vietnam. Each country will be headed by a national leader.
“This is the first time that SSEAYP will visit Davao City after 45 years (since the Philippines joined the program). The SSEAYP delegates were previously only hosted by Manila and Cebu,” Arquiza said.
Arquiza said there are 50 SSEAYP alumni from Davao City alone.
Arquiza said the SSEAYP is a 53-day program covered by a signed Joint Statement between Japan and the Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and the Kingdom of Thailand.
Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Kingdom of Cambodia later joined in the 80s and 1990s.
Arquiza said the program aims to promote friendship, promote mutual understanding, broaden the perspective of the youth in the international community and create networks with youth in 10 ASEAN countries.
He said Davao City was chosen to host this year’s SSEAYP in consideration of its good peace and order situation. Japan has also maintained good relations with Davao, which was home to many Japanese even before World War II, he added.
During the delegates’ visit to the Philippines, they are expected to cultivate their leadership skills in different fields and tackle issues on the role of the youth in nation building.
While in Davao, Arquiza said the delegates will have a glimpse of the city’s Central 911 Emergency Response Center, the Public Safety Office, and the Malagos Garden Chocolate Museum. They will also meet with city officials.
