DFA Consular Office in Lipa Participates in “#YouthasAgentsofChange: A Call to Action” Webinar

LIPA 29 September 2020 — The Department of Foreign Affairs Consular Office Lipa City (DFA CO Lipa) personnel participated in a webinar entitled, “#YouthasAgentsofChange: A Call to Action”, held via the Zoom Platform on 23 September 2020.

The webinar, led by the Office of Civil Defense National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, discussed the youth's vital role as an agent of change in an inclusive and resilient community and as a leader and role model in advancing the fight against the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has several impacts on the youth. One of these is the access to continued education through online classes that demands access to the internet and high quality gadgets and another is on unemployment, especially to those who are new to the corporate world. Ms. Joie Cruz, Chief Visionary Officer of the Limitless Lab, ended her discussion leaving a quote to every youth saying: "Train yourself to transform problems into opportunities to make a difference".

A highly-engaging tactic in handling the different dilemmas in this global pandemic was shared by one of the resource speakers, Mr. Val Vestil, Executive Director of Association of Young Environmental Journalists. According to him, the youth can still be more productive in facing these challenges not for themselves alone but for their community at large by creating a solid action plan, developing one’s skills, and being more innovative and creative in doing their goals in collaboration with the members of the community.

Another resource speaker, Commissioner Paul Anthony Pangilinan, Commissioner-at-Large of the National Youth Commission, shared that the youth, through their innovative thinking, can be an instrument in educating Filipinos. By ensuring that Filipinos are equipped with the skills and knowledge in disaster resilience in these trying times, the community could build and strengthen their capacity to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 in transitioning to the "New Normal". END