Student leaders become legislators in Phl Model Congress

MANILA, Philippines - For two days, student leaders from across the country took on the role of legislators to give them a first-hand experience of the process of crafting bills and become a part of nation-building.

The Senate hosted this year’s 2nd Philippine Model Congress, with over 500 student leaders from 80 provinces participating in the two-day event, which was patterned after conferences hosted by the United Nations and the American Congress.

According to the organizers, the Model Congress is meant to inspire the country’s future leaders to enter public service and allow Congress to know what matters to the youth.

For the past 30 days, the participants worked on crafting bills that they would present during the two-day Model Congress, which would go through debates just like what is done in the actual Senate and House of Representatives.

The bills passed during the event would be compiled in a book, copies of which would be given to each member of the Senate and the House for their consideration.

Apart from experiencing the process of lawmaking, the student leaders would also have an opportunity to increase their awareness of national issues and let their elected leaders know what matters to them through their proposed bills.

The first day of the event kicked off yesterday with the students holding their respective committee hearings for their proposed bills.

Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, the youngest member of the 16th Congress, was on hand to give an inspirational message to the participants, along with National Youth Commission chairman Leon Flores III.

The event ends today with plenary sessions where the proposed bills would be debated and put to a vote.

For today’s event, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara and Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon would be on hand to listen to what the student delegates have to say.

The organizers of the event were student leaders themselves, namely Leandro Leviste, Lance Katigbak, Tricia Peralta, Thomas Rosal, Alonzo Virata and Raffy Tanpho. Leviste is the son of Sen. Loren Legarda.

The conference was sponsored by the Senate, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, National Youth Commission and the Sangguniang Kabataan.