One of the youth leaders of the Hope Builders Organization Negros Island (HBONI) was among the participants in the Provincial Youth Day celebration at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol Social Hall on August 12, 2025, held in line with the International Youth Day observance.

HBONI Area Coordinator for Victorias City Niecer Penaso discussed the organization’s role in nation-building and promoting youth-led initiatives that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

He shared his personal view on the importance of empowering young people to take active roles in community development.

“To cultivate a more inclusive space for the youth in Negros Occidental, we must begin by creating communities that are safe, welcoming, and empowering for all young people, regardless of their background,” he said.

The event included panel discussions on Children & Youth Rights, Youth-led Climate Action, and Youth as Champions for Social Inclusion. 

Penaso said, “By working together as a community—government, organizations, families, and youth themselves—we can build a culture of respect, participation, and shared responsibility that allows every young person in the province not just to be included, but to truly belong.”

Meanwhile, government offices also presented programs for the youth, including those from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC), Negros Occidental Scholarship Program Division (NOSP), Population and Development Division (POPDEV), and the Special Programs and Concerns Division – Sports.