Learning System and Abot Alam Program for those whohave left the formal school system. There are also various educational assistance and technical-vocational programs administered by various national agencies and local governments for the OSY. At a more general level, the implementation of the K to 12 program is viewed as a positive step towards decongesting and improving the learning curriculum, as well as making the educational system at par with international norms. The issue of jobs-skills mismatch can also be traced to weak linkage between the academe and the industry. As such, greater inter-agency collaboration and cooperation is underway involving various agencies such as CHED, DOLE, DTI, TESDA, NEDA, industry councils and academic institutions.

########## Employment

As borne out by the results of the survey, unemployment, underemployment, and the lack of employment opportunities are key concerns for the youth. Government programs and interventions range from the direct provision of employment opportunities (e.g. National Greening Program, Bottom-up Budgeting projects, Government Internship Program, Special Program for Employment of Students, etc.) to capacity-building (trainings on business and entrepreneurship, agriculture and livelihood, etc.). There are also initiatives on employment facilitation (job fairs, short-term trainings, placement and related services, etc.) and employment support (career guidance, support for small enterprises, industry-academe cooperation, etc.). On labor protection, the issues include contractualization, withholding of salaries, and non- compliance with minimum wage rates and mandated benefits. Amendments have been proposed to relevant labor laws to address contractualization. The DOLE and PESO are also conducting information campaigns to educate employersandemployees on labor regulations. Butas with the education sector, the interventions in the labor sector also tend to be fragmented and incoherent.

########## Health

When it comes to health, the foremost issue of the youth is their sexual activity because this can have far-reaching consequences for their lives especially for women. Teenage pregnancy is a common and important concern, which stems from various aspects ranging from insufficient information and education to family conditions to lack of access to appropriate services. Various programs, therefore, have been put forward to address teenage pregnancy as well as the broader issue of youth sexual risk behaviors. These include the Adolescent Youth Health andDevelopment Program, Moral Recovery and Values Formation Program, Gender and Development Program, among others. There are also teen centers in several LGUs that provide teen counseling, and information andeducation campaigns, along with private organizations such as the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines. Apart from preventing early sexual engagement, risky behaviors, and teenage pregnancy, however, there is also a need for dealing with the consequences for those who have already been through these. These include campaigns on safe motherhood, provision of psycho-social interventions for women and children, and orientation for parents. For non-sexual risk behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance abuse, there are ongoing information andeducation campaigns geared towards prevention. For existing users,