President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. highlighted the Filipino youth’s initiative on climate change and disaster resiliency before the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia.
In his intervention during the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Youth, Marcos said Filipino youths are at the forefront of advocacies to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate in the Philippines.
Noting the efforts of the Filipino youth, the chief executive stressed it should be replicated throughout all of ASEAN.
He said one of the initiatives is leading the declaration of the annual ASEAN Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience Day held during the 25th of November to promote awareness and provoke positive action among the youth to address climate change and galvanize disaster risk reduction efforts.
“Since 2018, the Philippines, with the support of various partners and stakeholders, has ensured the conduct of annual celebrations and involvement of youth leaders from all ASEAN Member States (AMS) in the activities,” Marcos said.
The President said Southeast Asia will remain the “epicentrum of growth” if it continues to empower its young people. He emphasized the region’s future lies in its ability to develop its young population.
“It is clear again that the future of ASEAN lies in our ability to support the youth in attaining their full potential. And this we must do by providing the skills and motivation to be ready for this future. Empowering the ASEAN youth and ensuring that ASEAN will remain the epicentrum of growth and undoubtedly contribute to the realization of our shared vision of prosperity and peace for all,” Marcos said.
“We must always put front and center all the issues that we face or that our young people face and that our country face the consequence of time,” he added.
The region needs to be future-ready to make it competitive in the global arena, the President said, highlighting the exponential growth of the digital realm and the world’s increasing dependence on digital tools, along with the rising global demand for creative products and services.
Marcos also pointed out that ASEAN must take immediate action to prepare its youth to seize opportunities in the digital and creative economies.
“We must ensure that they are well equipped to not only compete globally, but also to develop expertise, forge linkages, and establish leadership in these fields … strengthening youth people-to-people exchanges to facilitate the free flow of ideas and the transfer of skills is critical. Activities such as the ASEAN Youth Dialogue and the ASEAN Junior Fellowship Program are avenues where the youth can develop their leadership skills and competencies,” the chief executive added.
At the same time, the youth can play a role in addressing other pressing challenges such as climate change, environment and biodiversity, peace and security, education and traditional and social media, he said. (PND)
