About the Event
The National Youth Congress (NYC) is a partnership that first started in 2003 between two of the prime student organizations in the University of the Philippines, Diliman - the UP Economics Society (UP Ecosoc), and the UP School of Economics Student Council (UP SESC). As two of the University’s leading student bodies, we have jointly promoted service and utmost excellence through meaningful activities that cater to the youth of today.
Over the years, the Congress has grown into a deeply respected event, tackling pressing issues like labor migration, environmental sustainability, and the country’s progress on the Millennium Development Goals. In 2008, it included among its speakers two notable senators - Edgardo Angara, who was the first post-Marcos UP President, and Noynoy Aquino, who would go on to become the President just two years later. The roster of speakers also recently included two former NEDA director-generals - Solita “Winnie” Collas-Monsod and Cayetano Paderanga Jr. The National Youth Congress was officially endorsed by NEDA for the first time in 2008 and by the Department of Education (DepED) in 2009. Since 2014, the Congress expanded to become a three-day event, which culminates with a field trip to different institutions, such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). Now on its thirteenth year, the National Youth Congress aims even farther and continues its legacy by delivering relevant issues in the light of a new administration. It seeks to evaluate the nation’s recent economic history, with the goal of exploring various untapped avenues that set the track towards inclusive growth. In this light, it aims to empower the youth to think critically as the future leaders of the nation.
The event was held from November 19 to November 21, catering to nearly 300 students and faculty members of various high schools across the country. Its third day featured a field trip to the International Rice Research Institute, in Laguna.
The speakers for this year’s congress were Mr. Carlo Abad Santos, and Deputy-Director General of Policy and Planning, Ms. Rosemarie G. Edillon from NEDA, Farmer-preneur and organic farming advocate, Jonjon B. Sarmiento, Former Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary, Mar Roxas, and opinion columnist and media pundit, Professor Richard Heydarian.
The 13th National Youth Congress is endorsed by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the National Youth Commission (NYC), The Philippine Center for Economic Development (PCED), the Department of Education (DepEd) and the University of the Philippines Office of the President. Its NGO partners include the Calata Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and Teach for the Philippines. It is co-presented by The New York Times International Edition, and Uber and is in partnership with Nescafe, Chippy, Kornets, Vita Coco Ph, Silverscreen PhotoBooth, Cool Taste, and Famous Belgian Waffles-UP Diliman. It is featured by media partners: CNN Philippines, Monster Radio RX 93.1, 99.5 Play FM, and ClickTheCity.com.