PBBM seeks youth’s greater role in shaping ASEAN future

Detailed summary

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders to empower the youth and ensure the...

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his remarks during the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Youth at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Sunday (Nov. 15, 2026). The gathering provided a platform for young leaders to share their concerns and recommendations on issues affecting the region. (RTVM screenshot)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders to empower the youth and ensure their participation in shaping the region’s future.

During the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Youth at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Marcos said young people should not merely witness discussion on the region’s future but actively help shape them.

“I am especially pleased that our young people are here not simply to witness our discussion, but to help shape the direction of our region,” Marcos said.

Marcos stressed that ASEAN must ensure that young people have access to responsive institutions, meaningful opportunities, and safe communities where they can actively participate and contribute.

He said these are particularly important amid rapid technological changes, economic uncertainties, and persistent threats to regional peace and security.

“In an age of rapid technological change, economic uncertainty, and persistent threats to peace, young people need more than words of encouragement,” Marcos said.

“You need institutions that listen, opportunities that are within reach, and communities in which they can live and contribute safely,” he added.

The President recognized the contributions of young people across Southeast Asia in establishing businesses, developing new technologies, preserving cultural heritage, and serving their communities.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Philippine News Agency. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.