The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through the National Youth Commission (NYC), has allocated P5 million to expand youth-led initiatives on HIV awareness and stigma reduction.

Speaking at the DILG Kapihan today, NYC Chairperson Joseph Francisco Ortega highlighted the Commission’s active role in national HIV policy discussions and community-based interventions focused on the youth sector.

He said the NYC continues to engage with the Department of Health, the Committee on Health, and the Philippine National AIDS Council to ensure youth perspectives are embedded in HIV prevention, education, and response strategies.

In a milestone for youth representation and inclusion, the NYC Chairperson emphasized solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community, becoming the first NYC head to march in the Quezon City Pride Parade in UP.

To further combat HIV-related stigma, NYC is collaborating with an AIDS organization to launch a nationwide anti-stigma campaign.

The NYC reaffirmed its vision of a makabayang kabataan who are actively engaged in community-building and responsive to the health and social challenges facing Filipino youth.

The DILG recognized NYC’s initiatives as aligned with the national government’s priorities on public health, inclusion, and youth empowerment, noting that mobilizing young leaders is key to addressing stigma, misinformation, and access to services at the grassroots level.