SEN. Bong Go has given his full support for the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), including substantial support for the programs and projects of the National Youth Commission (NYC).
Go, who serves as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth, underscored the importance of ensuring that NYC was adequately funded to carry out its mission of empowering the Filipino youth.
“The funding for NYC is not only about the program but about the future of every Filipino youth. It is important to give them enough support, apart from the budget, to implement the projects and support the needs of the youth,” said Go.
“The youth are the hope of the people and future leaders of our country,” he said.
As an attached agency under the DILG, NYC plays an essential role in nurturing youth programs nationwide, from leadership and skills training to livelihood opportunities.
Go said that sufficient funding for NYC would help address issues faced by Filipino youth today. He pointed out that the commission’s programs provided valuable avenues for growth, civic engagement and empowerment among the youth.
“The youth are the future leaders of our country,” Go added, “and we need to give them the right tools to be ready for life’s challenges. The right education, opportunities, and support are an important part of this.”
Meanwhile, Go, who is also chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, emphasized his support for sports initiatives as part of a broader mission to keep the youth away from drugs and other harmful influences.
Through the National Academy of Sports (NAS), which he helped establish by authoring and co-sponsoring the Republic Act (RA) 11470, Go aims to provide young athletes with the resources and guidance needed to excel.
NAS combines academic education with intensive sports training at its facility in New Clark City, Tarlac, promoting a balanced path for youth to achieve both scholastic and athletic success.
Additionally, Go is a principal sponsor and one of the authors of Senate Bill (SB) 2514, the proposed Philippine National Games (PNG) Act, recently ratified by the Senate. This bill seeks to institutionalize a national sports program that nurtures grassroots sports development and offers aspiring athletes the opportunity to compete at the national level.
Beyond NYC, Go also underlined the DILG’s crucial responsibilities in maintaining peace, stability and economic resilience across the country. He noted that sufficient funding would allow the department to fulfill its mandate without hindrance, helping communities thrive and adapt amid challenges.
“The DILG plays a vital role in ensuring not just the peace and order in our communities but as well as our country’s economic stability. That is why it is important to provide them with sufficient funds to ensure they can carry out their mandate without hindrance,” Go said in a manifestation speech on Nov. 13.
Go expressed his hope that his colleagues would support the budget proposal, emphasizing that investing in the youth today is a long-term investment for the nation’s future.
He firmly believes that efforts must continuously be pursued to empower the younger generation, encourage participation in nation-building and mold them into productive citizens.
The senator also proposes the institutionalization of programs that can support youth organizations in pursuing worthwhile projects related to nation-building, create opportunities for the youth to participate and be represented in various levels of governance, and provide platforms for the younger generation to excel in their chosen fields.
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