Young Filipino leaders are renewing their vow to nation-building—this time by rallying communities to act together for equity, sustainability, and resilience.
The call resonated powerfully at the 10th National Population, Health, and Environment (PHE) Conference, held October 9–10, 2025, at the Heritage Hotel in Manila.
With the theme “Equity and Sustainability in Focus: 20 Years of Transformative PHE,” the gathering brought together more than a hundred advocates, practitioners, experts, and policymakers to chart integrated solutions to the interlinked challenges of population, health, and the environment.
“Now more than ever, the dynamics of population, health and environment are crucial in enabling actions among government, non-government and civil society organizations to empower and build resilient communities,” said Dr. Joan Castro, executive vice president of PATH Foundation Philippines Inc. (PFPI), lead convener of the conference.
Formed in 2002, the PHE Network has evolved into a coalition of thought leaders and advocates working toward an equitable society of empowered, resilient, and healthy communities.
The biennial conference, now on its 23rd year, continues to highlight the urgency of interdisciplinary action on climate, health, and social inclusion.
This year, the spotlight turned to the youth sector, underscoring how young people’s voices, creativity, and leadership are vital in driving the next phase of the PHE movement.
“PHE is our shared legacy of equity, health and sustainability—and the youth are its torchbearers, leading the way toward resilient communities and a thriving planet,” Castro added.
In keeping with the spirit of the Youth Pledge, the conference launched the first-ever Youth PHE Pledge—a collective commitment by young advocates to uphold equity, protect the environment, and advance health and gender justice.
Prior to the conference, 20 Filipino youth leaders joined peers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia in a dynamic exchange on climate action, biodiversity conservation, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and community resilience.
The training, organized by PFPI in partnership with YGOAL Inc. and supported by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), strengthened their capacity to lead community-driven initiatives.
A youth-led panel explored four key themes: Youth participation and leadership in PHE, biodiversity conservation, humanitarian and disaster resilience, and gender equality, diversity, and social inclusion (GEDSI).
Participants shared how the integrated PHE approach can advance environmental and SRHR justice, foster intergenerational collaboration, and inspire innovation at the grassroots.
The conference also resulted in the creation of youth-led thematic clusters in the Philippines that will develop small-grant proposals to sustain PHE advocacy and action—with African youth leaders serving as their “big sibling” mentors.
By placing youth at the center of the discussion, the PHE Network reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing a new generation of changemakers—young Filipinos who embody the Youth Pledge not just in words, but in action for people and the planet.