Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales led the launching of the Young Leaders Integrity Development Camp at the Office of the Ombudsman. Ombudsman Morales was joined by Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang, Deputy Ombudsman Gerard Mosquera and representatives of the Department of Education, United Nations Development Programme, Pail and Shovel Integrated School and other civil society organizations.
In her keynote remarks, Ombudsman Morales said that “we are well aware that this is an important step in the country’s development. Knowledge, awareness and good values will lead to success and development. If our young generation is to be guided in the right direction where the unhealthy culture of palakasan, takipan, and
padrino system is neither practiced nor tolerated, it is possible.”
The camp is envisioned to be the culmination of the Office’s existing youth programs consisting of the Graft and Corruption Prevention Education Teaching Exemplars and the Campus Integrity Crusaders. The youth camp aims to provide an enabling environment that will facilitate a deeper realization of self, family and community within a national development context. It includes a module on understanding the workings of government within the framework of good governance include the state of corruption of the country and anti-corruption initiatives.
The Integrity Camp is a five day live-in summer development program for gifted 8th and 9th public school students. It is designed to shepherd the youth for a future that is founded on a corruption intolerant society.
It will be held on May 23 to 27 at the Ombudsman Training Center in Rosales, Pangasinan. ###