The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and the National Youth Commission (NYC), in partnership with the Provincial Government of Camarines through the EDMERO and the Provincial Youth Development Office (PYDO), successfully held the pilot implementation of AHON: Poverty Reduction Caravan 2025, offering services to over 450 youth from different schools and organizations on December 6, 2025 at the Fuerte Sports Complex.
Aligned with the Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP), various national and local agencies provided essential services down to the grassroot level, including scholarships, labor and employment assistance, social protection, health and development, agriculture, business and MSME-related assistance, internet and connectivity support, and environmental and frontline services, among others. The caravan also served as an avenue for a truly inclusive and responsive government that caters to the needs of the youth sector.
Graced the event were Leah Villalon, MNSA, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of NYC; Clifford Natividad, Executive Assistant, Office of the Deputy Director General of NAPC; Ninian Sumadia, MBA, Sectoral Representative of NAPC Youth and Students Sectoral Council; and Honorable Justmine San Buenaventura, Provincial Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President.
“Ayon sa pagsusuri ng Philippine Statistics Authority, isa po yung Camarines Sur sa mga probinsya na kinakailangan ng better opportunities para sa pag-ahon mula sa kahirapan. And definitely, isa ito sa mga reasons kung bakit dito natin ‘to ginanap. However, meron rin po tayong recognitions na marami na pong ginagawa ang mga agencies and yung government itself, to actually support ‘yung poverty reduction,” detailed Alyannah Lagasca, one of the council members of NAPC Youth and Students Sector.
“Investing in young people— isa ito sa pinakamalaking bahagi ng pag-develop ng ating bayan. Dahil one third ng population ng Pilipinas ay puro bata, puro youth sector. And if we get to empower them, then we see a future brighter ahead of us. Naniniwala kami na ang pag-enhance ng capacity ng mga kabataan ay simula para magkaroon tayo ng mas maayos na sistema later on,” added Lagasca.
Jessica Rose Baydal, a 21-year-old student from Baao Community College, and one of the participants, shared, “Maganda po [itong event] kasi kumpleto na yung mga programs na binibigay sa amin or yung mga bagay na kailangan namin for our future. Mas nagiging knowledgeable kaming mga estudyante about sa mga services na kailangan naming kunin or yung available para sa amin. In our age, kailangan na rin namin matutunan yung mga bagay-bagay na dapat asikasuhin sa buhay.”
As a first-time voter on the next election, Baydal availed herself of the services offered by the Comelec, such as the voters’ registration. She also requested for her birth certificate at the PSA and got it with ease and hassle-free.
“I would like to thank the NAPC and NYC sa pag-conduct ng ganitong event, it is very powerful and knowledgeable event. Maganda rin na binisita nila kami kasi nagiging aware kami sa mga agencies na pwede naming mapakinabangan as a citizen. Thank you also to the Provincial Government and kay Governor Lray kasi ina-allow nila yung mga ganitong program and mas pinapalawak nila yung mga resources ng mga students. It was a very good opportunity para samin,” added Baydal.
The Provincial Government headed by the visionary leadership of Governor Lray Villafuerte, is unwavering in its commitment to the next generation, ensuring that the youth are uplifted, nurtured, and empowered through strategically developed programs and services that invest in the future of the province.
