𝗕𝗟𝗡 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗬𝗖 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

QUEZON CITY — The National Youth Commission (NYC) recently met with the Bayanihan Lab Network (BLN) represented by Mr. Dexter Lloyd Sularte, to explore potential areas of collaboration on the upcoming CityScape Youth Leaders Program in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, scheduled for April 28–May 2, 2026.

The meeting centered on strengthening the architecture of international exposure programs for Filipino youth leaders, particularly those serving in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). 𝗡𝗬𝗖 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝘃𝘆 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁 conveyed openness to sustained collaboration and underscored the importance of ensuring that international engagements for SK officials and youth leaders are implemented with rigor, accountability, and clear developmental outcomes. The discussion emphasized that overseas learning initiatives must be structured, policy-aligned, and anchored on measurable capacity development objectives.

BLN presented the design framework of the Kaohsiung program, which will intentionally limit participation to 35 delegates per cohort in order to preserve depth of engagement, mentoring quality, and structured peer-learning dynamics. The program will convene Filipino and Taiwanese professors, civil servants, community leaders, and entrepreneurs in facilitated sessions focusing on youth governance, urban innovation, sustainable development, and civic leadership. The initiative is organized in partnership with Youth Service Philippines (YSP) and Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association Taiwan.

BLN and its program managers have been involved in Philippine–Taiwan exchanges from 2023 to 2026. Over this period, the network facilitated more than 70 bilateral delegations involving over 1,100 participants across local governments, national government agencies, higher education institutions, civil society organizations, and youth sectors. These engagements include 55+ Philippine delegations to Taiwan with an estimated 850–900 participants, reflecting sustained multi-sectoral cooperation and demonstrated program management capacity.

Also present during the meeting were 𝗠𝗿. 𝗪𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗼, Founder of Youth Service Philippines, and 𝗠𝗿. 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼, 𝗘𝗻𝗣 Senior Lecturer at UP NCPAG. They articulated the complementary role of civic organizations and non-government institutions in supporting NYC’s mandate, particularly in scaling leadership formation efforts across the country’s more than 42,000 barangays. The discussion highlighted that collaborative governance anchored on partnerships between state institutions and civil society—remains essential in cultivating principled, competent, and development-oriented youth leaders.

For more information on the upcoming CityScape Youth Leaders Program (April 28–May 2, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan), including program framework, eligibility, and application details, interested stakeholders may visit: https://bayanihanlabnetwork.com or message us through our social media platforms.

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