REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
House of Representatives
Quezon City

16" Congress
3m Regular Session

6278

HOUSE BILL NO. __

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution acknowledges the importance of the youth in
developing a strong Filipino Nation. Article II Section 13 reads:

The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building
and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual,
and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and
nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.

Aside from the Constitution, youth participation is also enshrined in other
statutes. The 1991 Local Government Code provides for the youth’s participation in
local development and the establishment of the Sangguniang Kabataan. The 1995 Youth
in Nation-Building Act provided a national comprehensive program on youth
development and the creation of the National Youth Commission. Furthermore, the
Medium-Term Youth Development Plan of the Philippines identified the youth's right to
participate in decision-making on policies involving them and their responsibility to
represent their sector in policy-making bodies. Indeed, the participation and
representation of the youth is of utmost importance in the Philippine bureaucracy.

This bill seeks to include the youth in the highest policy-making body of the
country by instituting the Youth Legislators Program. The proposed Youth Legislature is,
tasked to propose bills and resolutions to the House of Representatives and the Senate.

To ensure that the youth’s voices are heard in the national legislative process,
the passage of this measure is earnestly urged.

ALFREDO D. VARGAS III


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
House of Representatives
Quezon City

16t Congress
34 Regular Session

278

6
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE YOUTH LEGISLATORS PROGRAM

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress combined:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Youth Legislators
Program Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote youth
participation in the legislative process by giving them an opportunity to express their
views on issues affecting them and on what laws may be enacted to address these.

SEC. 3. Youth Legislators Program. ~ Immediately following the assumption of
office of senators and district representatives, there shall be a body comprised of the
youth who shall convene regularly for a period to propose bills and resolutions to the
House of Representatives and the Senate. This body shall be called the Youth
Legislature.

The Youth Legislature shall approve proposals for bills and resolutions in the
same manner the House of Representatives and the Senate adopt bills and resolutions.
The approved proposals shall be submitted to the House of Representatives and the
Senate who may adopt the same.

SEC. 4. Youth Legislators. - There shall be one youth legislator for every
legislative district who shall report to the House of Representatives and 24 youth
legislators who shall report to the Senate. They shall be selected from a pool of
applicants through written or oral examinations to be conducted by the National Youth
Commission (NYC).

(A) Qualifications - A youth legislator must:

1. beat least 15 but not more than 24 years old;


2. bea resident of the legislative district he/she is representing, if reporting
to the House of Representatives;

3. bea resident of the Philippines, if reporting to the Senate;
4. not have previously been a youth legislator;

5. not be a relative within the fourth civil degree of an incumbent elected
official; and

6. have other qualifications set by the NYC.

(B) Period - The Youth Legislature shall be given two weeks to convene and
approve proposals for bills and resolutions.

(C) Obligations ~ A youth legislator shall:
1. propose bills and resolutions to be presented to the Youth Legislature for
approval, and participate in the deliberations of the body on the

proposals;

2. observe sessions, public hearings, and other meetings of the House of
Representatives or the Senate, as the case may be; and

3. attend trainings, seminars, or forums organized by the NYC for purpose of
implementing this Act.

SEC. 5. Honorarium. - A youth legislator is entitled to receive a daily honorarium
for a period of two weeks equivalent to 75% of the minimum wage in Metro Manila.

. 6. Implementing Agency. - The NYC shall be the primary implementing and
supervising agency for the implementation of this Act. It shall formulate the necessary
implementing rules and regulations immediately upon the approval of this Act.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. ~ To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as
may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury.
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of this program shall be
included in the annual appropriations of the NYC.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or
inconsistent with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.


SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,