PH to push for ‘greater’ youth role in ASEAN resiliency

VIENTIANE - The Philippines will push for the greater role of youth in ensuring resiliency in the ASEAN region amid present challenges, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Tuesday. 

The DSWD is the lead agency for the Philippines in handling the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Pillar. 

“For this Summit, we will be pushing for greater youth capacity building towards resilience in light of the numerous challenges faced by the youth sector. I will be joining the President in the Youth Interface,” Gatchalian told GMA News Online. 

The DSWD chief emphasized that youth representatives are known for being mental wellness community advocates and disaster resiliency champions. 

“So, these are the areas we are advocating on,” Gatchalian said. 

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is in Lao PDR to participate in the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. 

The Philippine youth will be represented by Ymari Kristia Pascua and Dr. Alfredo Sablay, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu earlier said. 

The United Nations Population Fund said the youth population is projected to exceed 220 million by 2038 in the region, noting that young people are significant as change-makers and innovators. 

Dialogue about the youth focuses on health, well-being, education, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion. 

In 2023, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Pillar tackled the village to village development among member states to improve the living conditions in rural communities. —LDF, GMA Integrated News