ANTIQUE — The Provincial Dagyaw 2025 in Antique moved beyond talk and focused on tangible solutions to two of the most urgent youth issues in the province — teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS — calling for stronger education, active parental involvement, and responsible decision-making among the youth.

Health Education and Promotion Officer II Irene Duldoco of the Integrated Provincial Health Office emphasized that prevention and proper treatment remain the strongest weapons against HIV. She highlighted the availability of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) that help suppress the virus, lower its spread, and allow patients to live healthy lives.

“It’s not yet the end of the world for those living with HIV,” Duldoco said. “Through regular use of ARVs, they can live normally. What matters most is early testing, consistent treatment, and education to stop the stigma.”

Duldoco added that the government is strengthening outreach to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs), ensuring that awareness and medical services reach all communities. “Change must start from us — from our families, schools, and communities,” she said.

University of Antique Assistant Professor and Registered Psychologist Ramalo R. Amedo, one of the session panelists, pushed for a more holistic approach to teenage pregnancy prevention — one that includes both education and emotional support.

“Teenage pregnancy isn’t just about young mothers. It’s about young fathers, too,” Amedo said. “They must be taught compassion and accountability. Both boys and girls should understand that every choice has lifelong consequences.”

Amedo stressed that communication between parents and children is a crucial part of the solution. “Knowledge alone doesn’t lead to the right action,” she explained. “Even when teens know the risks, emotions and curiosity can outweigh logic. That’s why we need open, honest, and judgment-free conversations at home.”

Experts at the forum agreed that combining education with discipline, values formation, and strong family support is key to addressing youth-related issues.

More than 400 students from the University of Antique attended the forum, with hundreds more joining online. The event served as a safe platform for the younger generation to express their views and learn about the programs designed to protect and empower them.

Carrying the theme “Kabataang Antiqueño: Mangin Protektado kag Responsable Para sa Masanag nga Paraabuton” (Antiqueño Youth: Be Protected and Responsible for a Brighter Future), this year’s Dagyaw was led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6 and DILG Antique, in collaboration with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Western Visayas Network of NGOs (WevNet), and the University of Antique.

Now on its sixth year, Dagyaw continues to push for community-driven solutions by fostering trust, dialogue, and cooperation between government and citizens — showing that empowerment begins when people work together for a common cause.