Youth participation in the management of watershed areas in Salcedo, Eastern Samar, Philippines

Results of the study revealed that majority of the respondents were female and in-school youth; 40 percent had achieved college education and more than one-fourth were at the secondary level. The average household size was 7 members. The parents' highest educational level was the intermediate grade. The annual average income was estimated at 49,329.93 pesos. Farming was the mean livelihood of the fathers while that of the mothers was housekeeping. The respondents were mostly affiliated with youth organizations like Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Future Farmers of the Philippines. The motive of the majority in joining the organizations was to seek pleasure, while some were determined to help community and the youth sector or its combination. Very few had participated in trainings. Most of them did not have access to print media, while most had access to communication media like TV and radio. Most of the respondents could be found within 2 kilometers from the watershed. Much of the youth's participation was classified as pseudo, not genuine. Among the institutions that were found to strongly influence youth in their participation in the management of the Salcedo watershed were the school, youth organizations, NGOs [Non Government Organizations], GOs [Government Organizations], and the family. The church and mass media were found with no significant influence on the participation of the youth. The youth preferred to advocate for the adult and farmer sectors of society. They believed that the management of the watershed in Salcedo belonged to the local government unit. Most of the respondents were aware of the consequences of a denuded watershed, farming activities on the peripheries of watershed, the prevailing illegal cutting of trees of residents and non-residents. For conservation of the watershed and improve participation of youths, the major recommendations are: a) the institutions in Salcedo should strengthen linkages and provide interventions and atmosphere for the youth to learn the status and appreciate their role in the management of watershed, and b) to generate livelihood oppurtunities not based on watershed resources