Aklan Among Country’s Top Performing Youth Development Offices, Earns Up To P100K Grant

3

Kalibo, Aklan — Aklan has been recognized as one of the country’s top-performing Youth Development Offices (YDOs) under Project 9K, earning a special grant of up to ₱100,000 to strengthen skills development opportunities for young people in the province.

The recognition will be conferred on the Aklan Provincial Youth Development Office (PYDO) during ALPAS: A Learning Summit for Young People, scheduled on November 5 to 9, 2026, in Quezon City. The grant will support the in-person implementation of the Sakto Skills Serye, aimed at expanding access to relevant training and skills development for young Aklanons.

Under the grant arrangement, Aklan is expected to conduct training using at least two prescribed modules and reach a minimum of 160 youth participants. At least 80 percent, or 128 participants, must complete the required learning activities and meet the programme’s LEaP! Improved outcome requirements.

Project 9K is implemented under the Learning to Earning Pathways (LEaP!) Programme through the collaboration of the National Youth Commission (NYC), Ateneo de Zamboanga University and UNICEF Philippines. It seeks to expand youth access to skills development while strengthening local systems for youth programming.

The Aklan PYDO credited the recognition to the participation and commitment of young Aklanons, particularly those who took part in the Sakto Skills Serye Challenge under the Peacebuilding learning pathway. The office said the achievement highlights the importance of empowering young people with practical skills and opportunities to contribute to peaceful, inclusive and resilient communities.

The upcoming grant-supported activities are expected to further strengthen Aklan’s youth development initiatives by equipping participants with socio-emotional, transferable and employability skills. The province aims to sustain the momentum of Project 9K and reach more young people through accessible and responsive training programmes.

The Project 9K Awarding Ceremony will be among the highlights of the ALPAS summit, which will gather youth, government agencies and development partners under the theme “Breaking Barriers. Building Synergy. Sustaining Change.” The NYC has yet to announce the specific date, time and final venue of the awarding ceremony.