Bislig City has created its own Local Youth Development Office (LYDO), a city department that will plan, coordinate and monitor youth programs across the city. City Ordinance No. 2026-13 sets up the office, its staff, and a City Youth Development Council.

When it was passed

The Sangguniang Panlungsod enacted the ordinance on April 28, 2026, during its 41st regular session. Mayor Florencio C. Garay approved it on May 12, 2026. It was authored by SK Federation President Ana Mae M. Agusa and sponsored by Councilors Romeo F. Cacayan, Jonas A. Cacayan, Alfredo J. Carmelo, Bernadeth May R. Almanon-Balondo and Pedrito R. Sulapas, Indigenous Peoples Representative Florio S. Josafat, Jr., and Vice Mayor Conrad C. Cejoco.

The ordinance cites Republic Act No. 10742, the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, which provides for a LYDO in every city, province and municipality, and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2017-36, which directed local chief executives to create one.

Who counts as youth

The ordinance defines youth as people aged 15 to 30. For planning purposes, it splits them into three groups: 15 to 17 (child youth), 18 to 24 (core youth) and 25 to 30 (adult youth).

What the office does

The LYDO is described as the city's main planning, coordinating, policy-making and monitoring structure for youth development. Its listed functions include:

  • Registering and verifying youth and youth-serving organizations under the National Youth Commission's Youth Organization Registration Program.
  • Helping prepare the city's Local Youth Development Plan.
  • Running the election of youth council representatives and serving as the council's secretariat.
  • Conducting the mandatory and continuing training of SK officials, in line with programs from the National Youth Commission and the DILG.

How it is staffed

The office is headed by a Local Youth Development Officer, a department head position at Salary Grade 25. The ordinance lists qualifications including Bislig residency, a relevant bachelor's degree, at least three years in youth development work or youth organizations, and supervisory experience. It adds that the officer should preferably be no older than 30 when appointed, and may not be related to the appointing authority within the fourth civil degree.

Below the head are three sections:

  • Youth Development Research, Planning and Accreditation, for needs assessments, policy reviews and accrediting youth groups.
  • Special Programs and Operations, for running youth programs in education, career readiness, leadership, health and life skills.
  • Administration and Finance, for the office budget, records and procurement.

The organizational chart lists 13 plantilla positions in all. The ordinance says hiring can be gradual, depending on the city's available resources.

The City Youth Development Council

The ordinance also creates a youth development council of at least 12 members. The SK Federation President chairs it and the SK Federation Vice President is vice chair, joined by ten representatives from youth and youth-serving organizations. The Local Youth Development Officer acts as secretariat.

The council's stated goals include encouraging youth participation in government and non-government programs, sharing information on education, jobs, livelihood and health opportunities, building a spirit of volunteerism, and involving young people in cultural and eco-tourism awareness.

Funding

The ordinance does not set a fixed amount. It directs the city to include in its annual budget whatever is needed to run the office.

Source: City of Bislig, Sangguniang Panlungsod Ordinance No. 2026-13 (enacted April 28, 2026; approved May 12, 2026), published on the city's Ordinances 2026 page at bislig.gov.ph.