ASUNCION, Davao del Norte — Peace is often associated with the absence of armed conflict. Yet in communities that have experienced decades of insurgency, peace is also built by ensuring that young people have opportunities to lead, participate, and find purpose within their own communities.
This shared understanding brought together around 150 young leaders from Barangay Concepcion for the first Youth Leadership Summit, held from May 8 to 10 at the Barangay Gymnasium in Asuncion, Davao del Norte.
The three-day activity was organized by the 60th Infantry (Mediator) Battalion in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Asuncion, the Barangay Local Government Unit of Concepcion, the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), and the Youth for Peace Movement Davao del Norte Chapter.
Designed as a leadership and civic engagement program, the summit combined interactive discussions, team-building activities, values formation, environmental stewardship sessions, and community development workshops. Organizers said the activity aimed to strengthen leadership among the youth while encouraging them to become active contributors to the welfare of their barangays.
Across many conflict-affected communities, one lesson has emerged repeatedly over the years: communities become more resilient when young people are given meaningful opportunities to participate in public life. Leadership programs, volunteerism, and civic engagement provide spaces where young people can develop confidence, responsibility, and a sense of belonging—qualities that strengthen communities long before conflict has an opportunity to take root.
Participants spent three days learning not only practical leadership skills but also the importance of teamwork, accountability, environmental responsibility, and public service. Through group exercises and discussions, they were encouraged to view leadership not as a title or position, but as a commitment to solving problems and serving others.
The summit formally opened with the participation of Municipal Mayor Hon. Atty. Rosario Dayaday and concluded with representatives from the Office of the First District Representative of Davao del Norte, represented by Youth Focal Person Emmerson Dave Silotan. Throughout the activity, partner agencies served as facilitators, mentors, and resource speakers, while also providing logistical and security support.
In his message, Lieutenant Colonel Jesus L. Rosete, Commanding Officer of the 60th Infantry Battalion, challenged participants to pursue leadership grounded in service, resilience, innovation, and integrity. He emphasized that communities depend on young people who are willing to take initiative, overcome challenges, and contribute to local development.
The summit also reflected a broader shift in how peacebuilding is understood. While security remains an important component, lasting community stability increasingly depends on strengthening local institutions, encouraging civic participation, and investing in young people before social frustrations, isolation, or misinformation create conditions that others may exploit.
For many communities in Mindanao, this approach represents an important lesson drawn from decades of conflict: peace is not sustained by security measures alone, but by creating environments where young people can pursue change through leadership, volunteerism, and constructive participation in society.
As the summit concluded, participants returned to their respective communities carrying new skills, stronger networks, and a renewed sense of responsibility. Whether through school organizations, youth councils, environmental initiatives, or community service, they are expected to apply what they have learned in ways that strengthen not only their own leadership, but also the resilience of the communities they serve.
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