The Department of Education (DepEd), through the Youth Formation Division (YFD) under the Office of the Assistant Secretary for the Youth Affairs and Special Concerns (OASYASC), launched the Philippine Youth Convergence (PYC) 2022 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, June 15.

Host city mayor Hon. Lucilo R. Bayron, DepEd MIMAROPA Regional Director Nicolas T. Capulong, and Assistant Secretary for Youth Affairs and Special Concerns Juan Valeriano C. Respicio IV welcomed the 2,007 students, teachers, and guests from the 17 participating regions to the opening program of the three-day assemblage.

Philippine Vice President-elect and presumptive DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte- Carpio in her keynote message via video presentation encouraged the participants to take part in the event’s activities that help in crafting youth education agenda.

The program included morning and afternoon plenary talks such as #StretchingBeyondTheLimit: Motivating Learners to Go Beyond their Potentials by World Vision Ambassador and TV personality and host Joyce Pring thru a pre-recorded video, #RealityCheck: Educational Challenges Affecting Youth and Young People by Lou Sabrina Ongkiko, The State of Filipino Youth by Emil Benjamin Tapnio, and #ThePriceToPay: Being Bold in Taking Risk and Reaching for Your Goals by Mirus Ponon.

The program also highlighted panel discussions on Child Protection-related topics where panelists Ysrael Diloy and Hazelyn Joy Bitaña answered questions raised by the participants.

The organizers conducted an election of officers for the PYC 2022 Lead and Regional Youth Convenor to the student-leader representatives from each region.

The first day was capped by a showcase of cultural music and dance performances from the youth of Puerto Princesa.

The PYC 2022 was developed to respond to DepEd thrust to reassess, realign, and refocus its youth-related initiatives. #