THE Department of the Interior and Local Government’s National Youth Commission (NYC) is set to roll out nationwide training programs to help young Filipinos become more resilient online and better prepared to deal with digital threats.
Speaking during the monthly DILG Kapihan in Quezon City, NYC Chairperson Jeffrey Ortega said the initiative, in partnership with Meta, will bring capacity-building programs to different regions focused on digital literacy, identifying fake accounts, and properly reporting harmful online content.
Ortega said the effort is part of a wider push to protect Filipino youth in the digital space, where misinformation, scams, harassment, and manipulation continue to grow.
He added that direct coordination channels are already in place so reports involving online abuse and threats can be acted on quickly.
“The minute somebody is fighting our youth, you can go to us and we will address that online,” he said.
Ortega stressed that building digital resilience has become more urgent as disinformation and foreign interference continue to target online platforms.
He said an informed, responsible, and well-equipped youth sector is essential to the country’s future.
“The only way for us to ensure na may continuity tayo is dapat resilient tayo, well-educated,” Ortega said.
Beyond cyberspace, Ortega also reminded young leaders seeking public office to be ready to deliver real results.
“Kung tatakbo kayo ng SK, siguraduhin n’yo na ma-deliver n’yo lahat ng mga kailangang i-deliver bilang SK.”
He urged the youth to take an active role in nation-building not only during elections, but in everyday civic life.
“The type of quality and youth that we need is somebody na nakikialam… hindi lang sa election pero sa bagay-bagay na ginagawa natin sa pang-araw-araw. If you really want to reform the Philippines, then be the hope.”
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