ILOILO – To strengthen community-based mental health care and youth empowerment, the Iloilo provincial government has allocated a total of P25 million to fund the construction of Family and Youth Development Centers (FYDCs) in five municipalities.
The towns of Badiangan, Banate, Batad, Estancia, and Lemery each received P5 million on June 7 for the construction of their respective FYDCs — multi-service facilities designed to provide accessible counseling, youth training, family education, and digital connectivity.
“These centers are our commitment to grassroots development, especially in mental health, population education, and youth support,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., emphasizing that the initiative complements the province’s broader social welfare programs.
Led by the Iloilo Provincial Population Office, the FYDC program aims to bring essential services closer to the barangays.
The centers will house pre-marriage counseling, skills training for youth, population and development education, and office space for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and youth-led organizations.
To enhance service access, the provincial government will also equip the centers with internet connectivity and IT hardware, enabling virtual consultations with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO). This is particularly geared toward improving access to online mental health support and family counseling.
Following the turnover ceremony, engineers from the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO) conducted technical consultations with local officials to ensure that all FYDC structures meet provincial design and safety standards.
PEO Chief Romeo Andig stressed the importance of structural compliance and design uniformity, underscoring the province’s goal of building “future-ready” community infrastructure.
Batad’s Mayor Elvira Alarcon, Lemery’s Mayor Oscar Villegas Jr., and Estancia’s Mayor Bianca Requinto — who personally received her town’s check — praised the provincial government for prioritizing long-term development and youth services.
Thirteen municipalities in Iloilo have so far benefitted from FYDC funding, with several projects already in advanced stages of construction./PN
