Written by: Rian Maculado, Stephen Buenaventura, and Miggy Nava Teran
The Positive Youth Development Network invited the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) to participate in the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Philippines 2025, which was held on October 11, 2025. LCOY is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process that aims to empower young people to engage in climate action and contribute meaningfully to policy discussions at local, national, and global levels. Representing the UP Resilience Institute YouthMappers (UPRIYM), student leaders Rian Maculado, Stephen Buenaventura, and Miggy Nava Teran attended the conference alongside youth leaders, civil society advocates, and government representatives from across the country.
The conference opened with keynote messages from Ms. Brooke Yamakoshi, Chief of Climate, Environment, and Resilience at UNICEF Philippines, and Usec. Joseph Francisco Ortega, Chairperson of the National Youth Commission. Their addresses underscored the urgency of youth participation in climate and disaster resilience efforts, particularly in shaping inclusive and forward-looking policies. This was followed by a panel discussion highlighting the roles of youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, and LGBTQ+ communities in policy-making, grassroots initiatives, and climate education.
A key moment of the event was the presentation of the National Youth Statement for Climate Action and Disaster Resilience, delivered by youth leaders from previous Regional LCOYs in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The statement called for, among others, the declaration of a national climate emergency, stronger institutional capacities for climate action, accountability mechanisms, protection of environmental defenders, and the pursuit of peace in conflict-affected communities.
In the afternoon, breakout conversations allowed participants to exchange experiences on urban disaster resilience and community-based initiatives. We learned about several local volunteer networks—many of which are youth-led—that are actively addressing issues ranging from disaster response to children’s education. These discussions emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration with local government units (LGUs) to sustain grassroots initiatives and translate community efforts into local action.
During these conversations, we shared UPRIYM’s experience implementing BATAlert, a child-centered disaster preparedness module designed to help children understand hazards and appropriate response actions. Through BATAlert, we engaged young participants in San Mateo, Rizal, and supported local efforts to integrate youth and children’s perspectives into disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) planning. The exchange reaffirmed the value of youth-inclusive knowledge sharing as a pathway toward more responsive and people-centered resilience planning.
LCOY Philippines 2025 served as a vital space for young people to amplify collective voices in the face of intensifying climate and disaster risks. By listening, sharing experiences, and engaging with fellow youth leaders, we gained insights that resonate strongly with UPRIYM’s work and mission. These learnings reinforce our commitment to continue building resilience alongside communities, by and with the youth, toward a more inclusive and resilient future.