The annual walk for a cause that props up the piggy banks for the City’s out-of-school-youth and the poor but deserving students, happens again as volunteers who pledge to put in at least a peso for every kilometer, take to the streets on the early morning of September 25.

The general goal is to raise as much if not surpass the P376,038.30 which was the total amount generated in last year’s walk-for a cause event, said City Social Welfare and development Officer and event action officer Dr. Teresita Villafuerte.

Now rousing up citizen participation and pledges for the 10 scholars whose education is funded from the pool, Alay Lakad 2016 organizers led by Alay Lakad Honorary Chair, City Mayor John Geesnell Yap and Executive Committee chair Gerry Joseph Lim have been engaging city business establishments, institutions, offices, agencies, departments, associations and organizations for participation and contribution for the worthy cause.

We have gone through at least five coordination meetings in the executive committee, all to make sure that the activities get the most participation as well as pool the most resources, Alay Lakad secretariat Fiel Angelin Gabin added.

Next week, the Alay Lakad Executive Committee would be conducting airathon session in local radio stations starting September 21-23 to encourage cash or check donations, which would be duly issued acknowledgement receipts by the City Social Welfare and Development office.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Alay Lakad began in 1972 when the Department of Social Welfare, conceived and initiated the Walk-for-Cause project in cooperation with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scout of the Philippines.

By 1973, Alay Lakad has expanded its membership to include government and the private sector engaged in youth development to maximize efforts to help create a society that aims to attain the full economic and social well-being of the country’s underprivileged youth.

The main activity of Alay Lakad is a yearly Walk conducted nationwide, DSWD in its website published.

The idea is for civic minded citizens in every city and municipality to join mass hike out along prescribed routes while sponsors are then sought to donate a certain amount for every kilometer covered by a hiker.

The funds raised are used to finance socio-economic for the needy out-of-school youth.

These socio economic projects include skills training on various occupational trades, income-generation projects community scouting, leadership training, scholarships and cultural activities.

Over the years however, Alay Lakad funds have been passed on to beneficiaries, without the public knowing how much of the pooled charity fund is spent, on where.

This year too, the Alay Lakad Committee is presenting to the public the ten city scholars who benefitted from the worthy walk for a cause pool.

Three groups of the Alay Lakad steps off this year from three different locations: Bohol Wisdom School for the group led by the Provincial government, Tagbilaran City Hall for the group led by the city government and at Petron Gasoline station along V.P. Inting Avenue.

The walk is slated to start at 4:45 a.m. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)