Abalos tells local execs to support youth's role in climate action, disaster resilience
By Chito Chavez
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. encouraged local chief executives (LCEs) to actively support the younger population's role in addressing pressing climate issues ahead of the celebration of the National Day for Youth Climate Action and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience on Nov. 25.

In a statement on Friday, Nov. 11, Abalos particularly encouraged the LCEs to initiate measures that will entice the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members at all levels to commemorate the event.
On Nov. 12, 2015, the Office of the President promulgated Proclamation No. 1160 declaring Nov. 25 of every year as the “National Day for Youth in Climate Action’’ which calls for the local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to confer with the National Youth Commission (NYC) in advocating and implementing programs and projects pursuant to the said proclamation.
Also, the ASEAN member-states declared Nov. 25 of every year as the “ASEAN Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience Day’’ and adopted the same on Nov. 13, 2018.
With this, Abalos issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2022-143 calling for the LCEs' support in the twin celebrations while encouraging them to use the online campaign tool kit and use the hashtag #YouthClimateAction.
“The aggregate social media posts shall form part of the monitoring report. Documentation reports may also be sent directly to NYC through e-mail address: [email protected],’’ the memorandum stated.
The on-line campaign tool kit, as well as the PDF files of Proclamation No. 1160 and the ASEAN Leaders Declaration can be accessed through the link:https://NowPH2022.
Abalos called on DILG regional directors to disseminate immediately and at the widest circulation the circular within their respective jurisdictions.
The DILG chief also requested the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao-Ministry of the Interior and Local Government to circulate the policy in the region.