LAMITAN CITY, Basilan — The Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) will construct a dedicated youth center in Lamitan City to serve as a hub where young Basileños can take part in peacebuilding and governance initiatives in their communities.

Basilan District Engineering Office (BDEO) head Engineer Kasim A. Hasanin said yesterday that his office and BYC Basilan Commissioner Hamdie I. Tanjil conducted a site inspection on 10 April in Barangays Sengal and Sta. Clara, where the project will be constructed.

Hasanin said the BYC Youth Center will serve as a hub where young Basileños can access opportunities, enhance their skills, and participate in peacebuilding and governance initiatives.

“We will also do the concreting of the access road to the proposed site — a key infrastructure needed to ensure accessibility and ease of travel to the center,” Hasanin said.

Commissioner Tanjil said, “We are building a safe space for our youth to gather, learn and grow together.”

“This is not just a vision — it is a necessity,” Tanjil pointed out.

This center will empower them to become key actors in the progress and peacebuilding of their communities and will function as a local extension of the BYC, bringing government services and programs closer to the youth of Basilan, the BYC Basilan Commissioner explained.

He said the center will play a central role in localizing regional youth policies, coordinating initiatives from the Bangsamoro government, and supporting the growth and mobilization of youth organizations.

Additionally, he said, the center will also conduct regular needs assessments to better understand the realities faced by young people in the province, ensuring that programs and interventions are relevant and impactful.

Tanjil said that the construction of the BYC Youth Center is backed by the Special Development Fund through the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority, in coordination with the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development.

Construction is set to begin after the lifting of the election ban, with completion and full operation targeted between late 2025 and early 2026.

The BYC calls on the youth of Basilan to take part in this milestone initiative and remain actively involved in shaping a better and more inclusive Bangsamoro.