Alay Lakad to kick-off 6th NGO-PO Week
The Freedom from Debt Coalition-Iloilo Chapter will lead students and different groups and organizations in the Alay Lakad sa Kalinong kag Katin-aran on December 1, 2005, as a kick-off activity of the annual celebration of the NGO-PO Week.
According to Ted Aldwin Ong, committee chairperson of the Alay Lakad activity, 'we are expecting around 5,000 participants from the City and Province of Iloilo mostly students under the National Service Training Program (NSTP) and also members of non-government organizations and people's organizations and professional groups.'
Participants will assemble at 6:00 in the morning of December 1 in two separate assembly areas, namely: Jaro Plaza and Fort San Pedro Drive Inn with the Partido ng Manggagawa, Sanlakas, Salvation Army and Creative Community Foundation as coordinators. These groups will serve as coordinators and marshals to ensure an orderly walk from the assembly point towards the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds to hold an opening program.
Now on its 6th year, the annual celebration is one of the main activities of Iloilo Coalition of Non-Government Organizations and People's Organizations (ICON). This year's theme 'Sabat Sa Kaimolon: Yara man lang sa Aton' will advocate Self Determination, Self Reliance, Indigenous Approaches, Sustainable Development, Effective Governance and transparency in responding to poverty-related issues and concerns.
The annual celebration is done in partnership with the Provincial and City governments in recognition on the role of civil society organizations in nation building and enshrined in Provincial Ordinance No. 2000-042 and City Regulation Ordinance 2001-190.
Also, it has the support and endorsement of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED-VI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA-VI).
The Alay Lakad is open to all interested participants. We aim to raise more funds for the ICON of Commitment Monument to Save and Protect Iloilo River project, a pending initiative of civil society organizations to highlight the significance of environmental protection. Professional groups will have a fixed registration while it is optional or voluntary for student participants, said Ted Aldwin Ong, deputy secretary-general of FDC-Iloilo and also the public relations officer of ICON.