ILOILO — With just days left before 2025 closes, the Iloilo provincial government has marked an early milestone for its family- and youth-focused agenda with the opening of the province’s first completed Family and Youth Development Center (FYDC) in Igbaras town, setting the tone for a wider province-wide rollout of similar facilities next year.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. led the inauguration of the two-storey, P5-million facility on December 22, describing it as the first fully finished FYDC to be turned over for public use.
The building will house family-related programs of the Provincial Population Office (PPO), offices of the local government unit of Igbaras, and serve as the workplace of the Sangguniang Kabataan president and the Local Youth Development Council.
“This is the first nga gin-inaugurate naton. Ang iban sunod na, nakita naton iban nga banwa human naman,” Defensor said, noting that several other municipalities are already nearing completion of their own centers.
The governor added that the provincial government did not only construct the building but also provided the necessary equipment to ensure the center is fully operational from the outset.
Provincial Population Office chief Atty. Ruel Von Superio said the FYDC reflects a more strategic approach to implementing the province’s Responsible Parenthood and Adolescent Health and Youth Development programs.
“Ini nga pasilidad isa ka tikang agud iga-establisar naton ang isa ka permanente nga istraktura agudto masuportahan sang tayuyon ang mga population and development programs, projects and activities for the families and the youth of the local government units, especially here in the municipal government of Igbaras,” Superio said.
A total of 12 more FYDCs are currently under construction across Iloilo as part of the provincial government’s push to strengthen families and empower young people as pillars of long-term social resilience.
The next recipient localities include Santa Barbara, Calinog, Passi City, Sara, Banate, Batad, Lemery, Badiangan, Estancia, Lambunao, San Dionisio, and New Lucena./PN
