ILOILO – In a step toward empowering families and the youth, the municipality San Dionisio and Passi City are set to construct their own Family and Youth Development Centers (FYDC), following the turnover of P5-million in funding to each locality from the Iloilo provincial government.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. personally handed over the checks to San Dionisio’s Mayor Darwin Bajada and Passi City’s Population Officer IV Ma. Theresa P. Buena on Monday, March 24. They were accompanied by their respective municipal and city treasurers during the ceremonial turnover, which was also attended by Provincial Population Office (PPO) head Atty. Ruel Von Superio and Provincial Engineer Romeo Andig.
The two-storey FYDCs are a flagship infrastructure project under the provincial government’s Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Globally Competitive, and Resilient Province of Iloilo (MoRProGRes) agenda. These centers aim to provide dedicated spaces for programs focusing on responsible parenthood, adolescent health, and youth development.
“These facilities will serve as hubs for life-changing programs and services for young people and families, especially in rural and underserved areas,” said Defensor.
The centers will host Pre-Marriage Orientation and Counselling (PMOC) sessions, skills training for youth, and a range of population and development activities.
They will also house offices for local Population Program Officers, Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs), Local Youth Development Offices (LYDOs), the Sangguniang Kabataan, and the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC).
According to the PPO, the FYDCs are a pioneering move to institutionalize youth and family support programs in local government units, fostering inclusive development at the grassroots level.
Construction of the centers is expected to begin soon./PN
