ZAMBOANGA CITY – Newly-appointed National Youth Commission (NYC) chair Aiza Seguerra wants President Rodrigo Duterte to expand the commission's authority to implementation, instead of letting it remain a mere policy-making body.

If the NYC is given more teeth, it would be more effective in addressing the issues and concerns of the youth, Seguerra said during a visit to youth affected by the 2013 Zamboanga siege at the Masepla Transitional Site, where thousands of families have been staying for three years, and Rio Hondo, one of the areas directly affected by the conflict.

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Seguerra was responding to the concerns voiced out by youth leaders, regarding access to basic education, youth empowerment, and other issues such as prostitution in the transitional sites.

Seguerra promised to collate all concerns and bring them up with proper government agencies for immediate action.

Meanwhile, Seguerra also expressed his support for the plan of Department of Health (DOH) to distribute free condoms among junior and senior high school students in all public schools in the country.

However, Seguerra said there should be a thorough discussion and orientation to allow students to understand the importance of these contraceptives in preventing not only unwanted pregnancies, but sexually transmitted illnesses such as HIV-AIDS.

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The Department of Education (DepEd) recently clarified that it has not yet allowed the DOH to proceed with its plan to distribute condoms in schools next year.