Davao City – The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will conduct the Regional Launching of the Youth Development Session (YDS) at the Davao City National High School on Tuesday, October 20.

The activity shall include the launching program to be followed by a press conference and simultaneously the actual conduct of the YDS modules to high school Pantawid beneficiaries.

The Regional Launching will involve the DSWD National Area Management Unit, Regional Youth Development Unit, Office of the Commissioners of the National Youth Commission, Regional officers from the Department of Education, School Heads of identified beneficiaries and some 260 Pantawid Pamilya high school beneficiaries.

“Youth are a positive force for transformational change. Their opportunities for communicating, acting and influencing are unprecedented. The challenges they face are unprecedented, too, from climate change to unemployment to multiple forms of inequalities and exclusion, in particular for youth belonging to vulnerable or marginalized groups,” said DSWd Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon.

“Our youth are engaged in public life and participate in political processes and institutions.  When young men and women understand their rights, they can become empowered to engage in civil society, public service and political processes, at all levels. Youth are agents for community resilience and they can be positive agents of change in their communities in time of conflict and disaster,” RD Razon added.

Currently, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program provides education grants to more than 7 million children aged 3-18 belonging to more than 4.3 million households.  Under the expansion, children in high school are entitled for education grants until they are 18 years old. (DSWD)