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

The appeal was made during the recent Dagyaw Town Hall Meeting in Camarines Sur, themed “EmerGENZ: Youth Rising for Safer and Resilient Communities.”

DILG Assistant Secretary Jesi Howard Lanete, representing Secretary Jonvic Remulla, urged young people to use their creativity and online influence to drive preparedness and action. He echoed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for stronger collaboration in disaster management.

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

Robin Lim, program manager of the DILG Central Office Disaster Information Coordinating Center, underscored the youth’s power to amplify disaster preparedness messages online and prompt community action.

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

The DILG reminded the youth to utilize social media as an advocacy tool to lead online campaigns, responsibly report hazards, and share verified information through fact-checking.

As vicechair for Disaster Preparedness under Operation L!STO, the DILG stressed that youth participation is key to transforming awareness into localized, action-driven initiatives.

Sangguniang Kabataan leaders were urged to incorporate youth-led disaster risk reduction activities into local plans and adopt the Wemboree initiative to enhance collaboration.