President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday to strengthen digital literacy and resilience among the region’s youth as a proactive measure against online scams and other emerging cyber threats.

President Marcos emphasized the youth’s critical role in building a people-centered community during the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with ASEAN Youth, held as part of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“The world we know is rapidly changing, driven by technology and other advancements in the digital frontier,” the President said during the dialogue between ASEAN leaders and youth representatives.

President Marcos said a darker side accompanies opportunities and in the technological space, there are online scams, cyberbullying, misinformation, disinformation, and the potential for abuse and misuse of artificial intelligence.

“We must therefore equip our youth with digital resilience that will enable them to navigate online spaces with a critical lens, and to use technology to amplify their voices and contributions to ASEAN’s regional growth,” the President stressed.

President Marcos also encouraged the youth to take an active role in collective efforts to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change, emphasizing their vital contribution to building a more sustainable and resilient future.

The Philippines continues to support youth-led initiatives on climate change, while the President noted the success of the ASEAN Youth Climate Action and Disaster Resilience Conference held in Manila on May 1 and 2.

“As leaders of ASEAN, we must come together and deliver the emphatic message that as we equip our youth and our peoples with tools for resilience,” President Marcos said.

“We must, at the same time, work together for the protection of our environment from further damage and from harm,” the President stressed. (PNA)