QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The National Youth Commission urged the concerned authorities to conduct a full investigation on the cause of death of at least five young people during a public concert held at the open parking grounds of the Mall of Asia in Pasay City over the weekend.
According to police reports, the cause of death of the victims is still under investigation. Young people are saddened by this turn of events where lives were compromised.
Initially, a report from the Inquirer mentioned that the said casualties were under the influence of alcohol and were unconscious when brought to San Juan de Dios Hospital and the Manila Doctor’s Hospital, respectively. There were also stories from party-goers posted online about the alleged brazen use of drugs within the concert grounds.
The youth are usually enticed to participate in gatherings sponsored by various entities that will provide them with opportunities to enjoy and connect with others. However, in spite of the stringent measures and precautions that were put in place by the law enforcers, the unwanted incident still happened.
Given the rising incidence of young people resorting to substance abuse, alcoholism and other tendencies leading to greater vulnerabilities, the National Youth Commission announced its commitment to push for an Enhanced Social Protection Framework for the Youth.
Speaking to some young journalists, Commissioner Earl Saavedra, OIC Chairperson of the National Youth Commission, stressed that the framework will primarily guarantee the protection of young people by preventing them from falling from their state of well being due to various risk factors. He further added that the role of the government in making it possible remains crucial since it shall establish concrete moves that will rationalize and coordinate the various social protection programs particularly for the youth by means of localizing and empowerment strategies for convergence.
Among the core social protection program responses which NYC intends to push for are the Social Safety Nets which provide mechanisms or urgent responses that will address risks on specific vulnerable youth groups and the Social Welfare interventions which are preventive and developmental actions that seek to assist those who are marginalized.
NYC sees the proposal as a work in progress that will primarily form part of the Philippine Youth Development Plan 2017-2022 which will be made public in due time. (NYC)
