Manila, Philippines – About 300 youth leaders from Southeast Asia joined the ASEAN Youth Summit on Digital Resilience and Responsible Use of New Technologies last 05-06 August 2026 in the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City. The Youth Summit, organized by the Philippine Government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in partnership with National Youth Commission (NYC), with the support of the United Nations Development Programme in the Philippines and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, brought together young people across the region to shape a more inclusive and responsible digital future. 

In his welcoming remarks, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian posed the question, “How do we ensure that technology remains a force for good?” He further highlighted how “our youth are our region’s greatest strength [and they] have the power to shape a digital ASEAN that is safe, inclusive, and trustworthy.”  

The two-day gathering served as a platform for dialogue, co-creation, and regional collaboration aimed at strengthening the competencies of the youth in digital literacy, online ethics, and responsible innovation. It also aimed to empower young people to become contributors to ASEAN’s sustainable development, governance, and digital transformation. 

In his message, UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines Christophe Bahuet highlighted that, “ASEAN's young people are not just users of technology; they are the innovators shaping the region's digital future. They have the opportunity to create a digital age that expands opportunities, reaches underserved communities, strengthens social cohesion, and drives sustainable development for all.”  

 The Summit recognized that digitalization creates new pathways for participation, education, and economic opportunities. It also presents risks ranging from online manipulation and cybersecurity threats to algorithmic bias and adverse mental health impacts. Discussions focused on how ASEAN can strengthen digital resilience, close digital divides, and ensure that technological progress benefits all young people, leaving no behind particularly those from underserved and marginalized communities.  

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos “Caloy” Yulo also inspired the youth leaders with his message of discipline, perseverance, and resilience. He shared that he “believes that even though the world of sports and technology are different, they both need strong mindset and good character.” 

 The Summit further recognized that while digitalization creates new pathways for participation, education, and economic opportunities, it also presents risks ranging from online manipulation and cybersecurity threats to algorithmic bias and adverse mental health impacts. Against this backdrop, discussions focused on how ASEAN can strengthen digital resilience, close digital divides, and ensure that technological progress benefits all young people, particularly those from underserved and marginalized communities. 

Among the key sessions was the plenary discussion on Digital Progress for Whom? Unmasking Digital Inequality and Integrity in ASEAN, which examined the realities of digital access, trust, and inclusion across the region. During this session, UNDP Regional Youth Program Manager Savinda Ranathunga noted in his presentation that “a quarter of Asia-Pacific is still offline and [this] share tracks inversely with human development.” He also estimated that artificial intelligence “could add around USD 1 Trillion to ASEAN’s economy by 2030, which is a GDP lift of 10-18 percent.”  

Representing the local government units in the Philippines, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte underscored that amid the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, integrity must remain at the core. She noted, "In this day and age, technical skills alone will not be enough. The next generation of ASEAN leaders must possess empathy, courage, integrity, and a willingness to stand in solidarity with those most in need.” She stressed the word integrity saying, “Because at the end of the day, you can have all the digital skills that are available at the moment, but when you do not have integrity, those skills are useless." 

The Youth Summit also featured youth-led dialogues, ASEAN Youth Circles, Policy Labs, and the AI for Good Design Sprint Challenge, where participants worked together to identify policy gaps and forward-looking solutions to digital challenges and formulate recommendations for governments, ASEAN institutions, and other partners. These discussions aimed to contribute to the development of the ASEAN Youth Statement on Digital Resilience and a set of regional policy recommendations aimed at promoting ethical, inclusive, and youth-centered digital transformation across ASEAN. 

In the panel discussion on Power and Accountability: Who controls the power in the Digital Future, Vivien Suerte-Cortes, UNDP Philippines Institutions and Partnerships Team Lead, who served as moderator emphasized that, “the journey from digital citizenship to digital leadership is … measured by whether young people can use technology responsibly, influence the decisions that affect them, and help create solutions that deliver lasting public value.” 

 UNDP continues to support initiatives that bridge digital divides and ensuring inclusive opportunities are available for every young person, including Youth Co:Lab, Digital PINAS (Inclusive, Competitive, and Responsible Digital Philippines), COMELEC Voter Education, and Green and Digital Cities.  [E]