President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on Monday, urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to strengthen digital literacy and resilience among the regional bloc’s youth as a “proactive measure” against online scams and other emerging cyber threats.

Marcos underscored the role that youth play in building a people-centered ASEAN community.

“The world we know is rapidly changing, driven by technology and other advancements in the digital frontier,” he said during the dialogue between ASEAN leaders and youth representatives.

He noted that opportunities in the online world often come with a suspicious aspect which includes online scams, cyberbullying, misinformation, disinformation, and potential abuse and misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“We must therefore equip our youth with digital resilience that will enable them to navigate online spaces with a critical lens, and to use technology to amplify their voices and contributions to ASEAN’s regional growth,” Marcos stressed.

The Chief Executive also encouraged the youth to take an active, broader role in addressing and mitigating the impacts of climate change, emphasizing their vital contribution to build a more sustainable and resilient future.

Meanwhile, the Philippines continues its support of youth-led initiatives on climate change, including the success of the ASEAN Youth Climate Action and Disaster Resilience Conference held in Manila from May 1 to 2.

“As leaders of ASEAN, we must come together and deliver the emphatic message that as we equip our youth and our peoples with tools for resilience,” Marcos said.

“We must, at the same time, work together for the protection of our environment from further damage and from harm,” he added.