NYC Chairperson Joseph Francisco Ortega – Screen grabbed from DILG livestream, January 29, 2026.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through its National Youth Commission (NYC), has set aside P5 million to support youth-led programs on HIV awareness and stigma reduction.
At a DILG Kapihan forum on Thursday, NYC Chairperson Joseph Francisco Ortega highlighted the Commission’s role in shaping national HIV policies and leading community initiatives for the youth sector.
Ortega said the NYC works closely with the Department of Health (DOH), the Committee on Health, and the Philippine National AIDS Council to make sure youth voices are part of HIV prevention, education, and response efforts.
In a first for the Commission, Ortega expressed solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community by joining the Quezon City Pride Parade in UP, signaling increased youth representation and inclusion.
To address HIV-related stigma, the NYC is partnering with an AIDS organization to launch a nationwide anti-stigma campaign targeting communities across the country.
Ortega reiterated the Commission’s vision of a makabayang kabataan that actively participates in community-building and responds to health and social challenges affecting Filipino youth.
The DILG praised the NYC’s programs as aligned with national priorities on public health, inclusion, and youth empowerment, emphasizing that mobilizing young leaders is crucial to fighting stigma, misinformation, and improving access to services at the grassroots level.
