PLCPD attends the AFPPD Standing Committee Meeting on Investing in Youth
Rep. Renee Co, Kabataan Partylist representative and PLCPD Secretary, together with PLCPD Advocacy Officer Charmen Balana participated in the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) Standing Committee Meeting on Investing in Youth held on June 4, 2026, in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The meeting gathered parliamentarians, civil society organizations, development partners, and Lao youth organizations to discuss pressing youth issues under the theme “Youth Empowerment for Inclusive Growth”.
Rep. Co was one of the three panelists on the 3rd Session on Youth Employment, Migration, and Inclusive Economic Growth. She highlighted the country’s challenges on youth unemployment, underemployment, and the limited support and employment opportunities for the Filipino youth – which leads to migration and the rise in the number of young OFWs. She emphasized the need to both protect migrant workers from the vulnerabilities that they face and to pursue structural economic reforms that create stable, adequate, and formal employment opportunities in the Philippines.
On June 5, delegates from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and members of AFPPD joined the study visit and met with members of the Lao Youth Union and the Lao National Assembly. Through the visit, the delegates were able to exchange best practices with the Lao representatives on engaging the youth and creating policies and programs that address their needs and concerns. They also visited the Lao Youth Radio Station, the Youth-Child Information Technology Center, and the Lao National Assembly building. Through strengthened regional cooperation and partnerships, PLCPD continues to champion policies that empower the youth and promote their sustainable and inclusive development.
