DAVAO CITY – Davao City second district Rep. Omar Vincent Duterte is seeking ways to prevent severe flooding in Central Visayas, which has resulted in deaths, damage, and left many families homeless.

Rep. Omar, in a brief interview after the SM Lanang Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Saturday afternoon, sympathized with people affected by calamities in Central Visayas.

“I understand it’s hard to find joy in times like this, following what happened,” Rep. Omar said. “But please know that in Davao City, we’re always finding ways to help you.”

Rep. Omar hopes that calamities in Central Visayas would not happen again and called for stronger preventive measures against severe flooding.

“We are with you, and we are ready to extend our assistance,” he said. “Let’s look for ways to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again.”

Rep. Omar reminded the public to remain vigilant and prioritize safety over property.

“Please brace yourselves and trust the emergency evacuation orders. We can replace any properties we have, but never our lives,” said Rep. Omar.

At least 250 junior and senior high school students from across the Davao region gathered Saturday for Ajinomoto Philippines Corp.’s “Eat Well, Live Well” Youth Summit 2025 in a hotel here.

APC Group President Koichi Ozaki said the event aimed to empower young Filipinos to become advocates of nutrition, wellness, and sustainability.

“The youth are the future changemakers. By empowering them, we give the next generation the knowledge and tools to make healthy and sustainable choices that benefit themselves, their families, and their communities,” Ozaki said.

Ozaki said the youth summit supports Ajinomoto’s global goal of extending healthy life expectancy and reducing environmental impact by 50 percent by 2030, with a focus on increasing vegetable consumption and reducing food waste.

Now in its third year, following successful runs in Manila and Cebu, the annual summit, in partnership with national government agencies here, is engaging the future workforce and consumers in achieving this vision by educating students.

In collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the summit featured learning sessions and workshops that encouraged students to create projects promoting better nutrition and environmental care.

Ozaki emphasized that the company’s long-standing mission, “Eat Well, Live Well,” goes beyond a slogan.

“It is a commitment to help Filipinos live healthier lives through proper nutrition and sustainable practices,” he said.

“Our mission is to contribute to wellness and help people enjoy better lives in the future,” Ozaki added. “We have been investing in youth development as we hope to see the younger generations become champions of a healthy and sustainable future.”