COTABATO CITY(December 5) — The future of the Bangsamoro is getting a bold, youth-led push as the regional government rolled out the Bangsamoro Youth Development Plan (BYDP) 2025–2030—a five-year roadmap shaped directly by the voices, stories, and struggles of young people across the region.
Launched on December 1 at the KCC Convention Center, the BYDP lays out clear, data-driven priorities that ministries, LGUs, schools, and partner groups will use to guide youth programs for the next half decade. It’s designed to make sure that Bangsamoro youth aren’t just “consulted”—they’re centered.
BYC Chairperson Nasserudin Dunding said the plan is anchored not on guesswork but on the Bangsamoro Youth Assessment Study (BYAS) 2024 and months of consultations with youth from every province, sector, and community.
“This plan came from your voices. Your strength and vision will lead the Bangsamoro in the years ahead,” he told the youth delegates.
For many young people, the plan promises something they’ve long been asking for: programs that reflect real issues—from jobs, education, and mental health to peace, identity, and civic participation.
Representing Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun stressed that youth leadership is now essential to keeping the peace the region fought so hard to achieve.
“Lasting peace depends on the people who will sustain it—and that is you, the youth,” he said. “When young people choose dialogue over extremism, they protect the peace our elders fought and died for.”
Bangsamoro Women Commission Chairperson Hadja Bainon Karon highlighted the importance of youth leadership that uplifts both young women and young men.
“By mainstreaming gender perspectives, we empower the youth to break barriers and lead transformative change,” she said.
During the unveiling, youth leaders, officials, and development partners signed a pledge to support the BYDP. The BYC also awarded ₱250,000 in grants to five Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) Heroes—SK leaders and youth groups driving innovative peace and community projects.
For young readers, the BYDP signals a clear message: the Bangsamoro Government sees you not as future leaders, but leaders now—partners in peacebuilding, governance, climate action, and regional development.
The next five years will test how this plan translates to real opportunities and better services, but one thing is certain: Bangsamoro youth are no longer on the sidelines—they’re leading the way forward.
