The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday urged the Filipino youth to harness the power of social media to promote disaster risk reduction and resilience in their communities.

It was also a call made during the Dagyaw Town Hall Meeting themed “EmerGENZ: Youth Rising for Safer and Resilient Communities” held recently in Camarines Sur, where DILG Assistant Secretary Jesi Howard Lanete, who represented Secretary Jonvic Remulla, called on young people to use their creativity and online influence to drive preparedness and action, echoing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for stronger collaboration in disaster management.

“Your energy, your creativity, and your voice matter,” he said.

DILG Central Office Disaster Information Coordinating Center Program Manager Robin Lim also underscored how youth can amplify the message on disaster preparedness online and make communities act.

“The farther the information will reach, more people will be informed and more actions will be generated. Young people can turn awareness into action,” he said.

The youth were reminded to use social media as a tool for advocacy to lead online campaigns, report hazards responsibly, and share verified information through fact-checking.

As vice chair for disaster preparedness under Operation L!STO, the Department underscored youth participation as key to turning awareness into localized, action-driven initiatives. Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders were urged to integrate youth-led DRR activities in local plans and adopt the Wemboree initiative to strengthen collaboration.

Meanwhile, Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund “L-Ray” Villafuerte Jr. also shared local resilience programs, including El Verde, Rinconada Wetlands Reserve, and the CamSur Green Embankment Project.

The DILG guaranteed that in promoting youth participation in DRR efforts, safety nets are in place to safeguard them against exploitation.

The Dagyaw Town Hall Meeting is the government’s program that promotes open governance through dialogues with the national government, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the citizenry.

Also present at the event were DILG Region 5 Regional Director Atty. Arnaldo E. Escober Jr., DILG Camarines Sur Provincial Director Ray B. Caceres, and Bureau of Fire Protection Region 5 Regional Director FSSUPT Achilles M. Santiago.

Through this initiative, the DILG reaffirmed its commitment to keeping the public informed and empowered through transparent, accountable, and participatory governance.