NEWLY-APPOINTED National Youth Commission (NYC) Undersecretary Cariza "Aiza" Seguerra sees the need for all the regions in the Philippines to have at least one "youth hub" that would deal with the issues and concerns of the youth.
Seguerra said the country only has eight youth hubs, including one in Davao City.
She added that this is not enough to address all the issues and concerns of the youth nationwide.
"I want a youth hub not just an office but a one-stop-shop para sa mga kabataan. A place where the youth can gather and express themselves, guided with respective people," Seguerra said.
Seguerra led the Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP) 2017-2022 Formulation-Regional Consultation in Davao Wednesday. It was held at the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) conference room in Davao City.
To ensure that all concerns of the youth subsectors will be heard, the NYC has conducted regional youth consultation workshop for the crafting of the PYDP 2017-2022.
"I want to hear what are the issues and concerns of the youth so that we can effectively craft a PYDP that will provide policy and program direction for the development and participation of the Filipino youth in nation-building," she said.
The PYDP 2017-2022 shall be formulated by utilizing participatory and inclusive approach to identify the main issues; opportunities, enabling conditions and proposed strategies and policies; and role of the Filipino youth.
Seguerra said the commission expects that through the regional consultations, they can gather substantial inputs from representatives of youth organizations and concerned government agencies.
The singer/television actor said that among the thrusts of the commission under her term are gender sensitivity and awareness, prevention of the human immunodeficiency virus, teenage pregnancy, health and employment for LGBT.
Seguerra has also attended the regional consultations in Tuguegarao City, Calamba City and the national consultation held in Quezon City the past few weeks. She is also expected to attend the same event in Iloilo City and other regions.
No region will be left behind the advocacies of the NYC, Seguerra said, adding that she will do her best to reform NYC in partnership with other government agencies.
