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The “Summerkadahan ’08 – The Sixth Congressional Summer Youth Extravaganza” is a program of Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio (of GenSan and 1st Dist. South Cotabato) in her campaign against drug abuse through sports activities for the youth. The first congressional district includes the city of General Santos and the towns of Polomolok, Tupi and Tampakan. Summerkadahan ’08, which will be launched on April 12, retains its focal attention on drug abuse prevention and the sports of basketball. The organizer would include volleyball for women with this city as a pilot area. A total of 14 barangays in Tampakan,15 in Tupi, 20 in Polomolok, and 26 in General Santos will be competing in their respective areas. Town champions will meet in this city on May 18 for the “congressional finals.” The project includes the orientation of the players about the evils of drug abuse though a seminar. The participants are expected to become peer educators and become prime movers in anti-drug campaign. Participating in-school and out-of-school youth ranges from ages 13 to 17 for the junior category and 18 to 22 for the senior. Participants will be provided subsidy of P5,000 per team for their uniform. The Sangguniang Kabataan in the participating towns also supports the program.
“This concern of our society and our ‘children and youth-needing help’ calls for everybody’s attention,” Elmer Cequiña, head of the Youth Affairs Development Office, one of the facilitators of the event, said. He pointed out that the Summerkadahan, now on its sixth year, has drawn out raves and admiration of the citizenry and from among the youth and adult anti-drug crusaders and sports enthusiasts within the first congressional district. “Congresswoman Custodio believes the activity will serve as a mechanism in molding a society with the youth active, productive and participative in nation-building,” said Cequiña. “Thus, our parents, leaders and youth themselves should join hands in this Herculean task of fighting drug abuse,” he stressed. “Our main focus is on the health and physical fitness of the children and youth on how they may be able to break the chains caused by drug addiction and other related ills of the times through sports,” Cequiña added. (Gandhi C. Kinjiyo / MindaNews)