TWENTIETH CONGRESS
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bit No._ 4418

Introduced by Representative FRANZ FERNANDEZ LEGAZPI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2023, there were approximately 10.7 million Filipinos aged five to twenty-four (5-24)
not attending school, or nearly one in five (25%) in that age group are those so-called out-of-
school youth (OSY).' Surveys further indicate that one in ten in the similar age demographic
Ieave school due to poverty, early marriage, or the need to work, with the highest prevalence
observed among late teens and young adults.”

Without policy interventions, OSYs continue to be at a heightened risk of long-term
unemployment, poverty, and social marginalization. While we endeavor to give every Filipino an
opportunity to attend and finish formal education and schooling, we must also ensure that those
who are not able to are treated fairly. The tragedy of OSYs is that not only are they one of the
most vulnerable sectors in the society, but they are also among the common victims of
discrimination, prejudice and crime.

‘The Magna Carta of the Out of School Youth seeks to recognize the rights of young
Filipinos who are not enrolled in any formal education and to provide them with equitable
opportunities to learn, train, and work. Under the bill, OSYs are defined as individuals aged 15 to
30 who are not attending school, unemployed, and has not finished college or any post-secondary
course, By declaring OSYs as rights-bearing citizens, this measure addresses long-standing
issues of stigma and marginalization and requires state institutions to treat them with the dignity
and respect that they deserve.

‘The proposed legislative measure aims to transform a vulnerable sector of society into a
productive force for inclusive development. Its enactment would not only provide millions of
Filipino youth with the tools to succeed but also strengthen the country’s human capital base,
develop civic participation for nation-building, and ultimately help reduce intergenerational
poverty among Filipinos.

This bill has passed the 17 and 19" Congresses of the House of Representatives. We
implore the 20 Congress to consider this piece of legislation and pass it into law to support,
empower and uplift the lives of all Filipino youth.

ht.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is

[ANDEZ LEGAZPI
Representative, “PINOY WORKERS PARTYLIST

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TWENTIETH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 4418

Introduced by Representative FRANZ FERNANDEZ LEGAZPI

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF THE OUT-

F-SCHOOL YOUTH

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

CHAPTER 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of the Out-of-
School-Youth."”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State values the dignity of every human person
and guarantees full respect for human rights. Pursuant thereto, the State recognizes the right of
out-of-school youth to social protection and to develop their full potential as partners in nation-
building. Towards this end, the State shall promulgate measures to achieve the following
objectives:

a) To inspire and encourage the out-of-school youth to contribute to nation building.
b) To recognize the rights of out-of-school youth in society

©) To provide an alternative learning system and a program for technical or vocational
education for the out-of-school youth;

d) To give full support to the improvement of the total well-being of the out-of-school
youth by providing educational development and employment opportunities; and

e) To recognize the important role of the private sector in improving the welfare of out-
of-school youth and to actively seek their partnership.

CHAPTER II
DEFINITION OF TERMS

SEC 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

a) Alternative Learning System refers to a parallel learning system in the Philippines that
provides a practical option to the existing formal instruction. It includes both the non-
formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills;

b) Out-of-school youth refers to a member of the population aged 15 to 30 years old who
is currently out of school, not gainfully employed, and has not finished college or a post-
secondary course;


¢) Social Protection refers to policies and programs that seek to reduce poverty and
vulnerability to risks and enhance the social status and rights of all out-of-school-youth
by promoting livelihood and employment opportunities, protecting against financial
hazards such as the sudden loss of income, and improving people’s capacity to manage
risks. Its components are labor market programs, social insurance, social welfare, and
social safety nets.

d) Substantive Equality refers to the full and equal enjoyment of rights and freedoms
contemplated under this Act and encompasses de jure, de facto equality and equality in
outcomes;

e) Technical Vocational Education refers to the aspects of educational process involving,
in addition to general education, the study of technologies and related sciences and the
acquisition of practical skills relating to occupations in various sectors of economic and
social life. ‘The term is comprised of formal (organized programs as part of the school
system), and non-formal (organized classes outside the school system) approaches; and

f) TESDA graduate refers to a student or trainee who has completed the requirements set
for a ‘Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-egistered
‘Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) course/program.

CHAPTER I
DUTIES RELATED TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH

SEC. 4, State as the Primary Duty-Bearer, - The State, through the National Youth
Commission (NYC) and concerned youth serving agencies, shall be guided by progressive
developments in the human rights of out-of-school youth under international law, and shall
endeavor to design policies, laws, and other regulatory measures to fulfill these duties. It shall
institute programs that will carry out the objectives of this Act and promote:

a) The protection of the rights of out-of-school youth against discrimination by private
corporations, entitles, and individuals; and

b) The substantive equality in the rights of out-of-school youth in all spheres of growth
and development.

SEC. 5. Duties of the State Agencies and Instrumentalities. - The duties of the State as
stated in Section 4 of this Act shall extend to all state agencies, offices, and instrumentalities at
all levels of government including government-owned and-controlled corporations, subject to the
Constitution and pertinent laws, policies, or administrative guidelines that define of state
agencies and entities concerned

CHAPTER IV
RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT

SEC. 6. Human Rights of Out-of-School Youth. — An out-of-school youth shall enjoy.
without discrimination, all rights provided for in the Constitution and those rights recognized
under international instruments duly ratified by the Philippines, in consonance with Philippine
law.

SEC. 7. Protection from Violence. - The State shall ensure that all out-of-school youths
shall be protected from all forms of violence, particularly in cases of physical abuse, sexual
exploitation and human trafficking as provided for in existing laws. The Department of Justice,
Department of Social Welfare and Services, and other concerned agencies, shall give priority to
the defense and protection of out-of-school youths and help in attaining justice and healing


SEC. 8, Equal Treatment Before the Law. ~The NYC and other youth-serving agencies
shall take steps to review and, when necessary, amend or repeal existing laws that are
discriminatory to out-of-school youths.

SEC. 9. Representation of Out-of-School Youth Issues and Concerns in Media and
Film. - The NYC and other concerned agencies shall formulate policies and programs for the
advancement of out-of-school youth in collaboration with government and non-government
media-related organizations.

For this purpose, the State shall ensure allocation of resources for the production,
publication and airing of all forms of information materials on the rights of the out-of-school
youth and the various services and benefits provided to them under this Act.

SEC. 10, Recognition and Preservation of Cultural Identity and Integrity. - The rights
of Moro and Indigenous out-of-school youth to practice, promote, protect, and preserve their
own culture, traditions, and institutions and to consider these rights in the formulation and
implementation of national policies and programs shall be upheld. To this end, the National
Commission on Muslim Filipinos and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples shall, in
consultation with the sectors concerned to protect their rights, indigenous knowledge system and
practices, traditional livelihood, and other appropriate measures to promote and to respect for
their rights, practices and way of life: Provided, That these cultural systems and practices do not
discriminate against other out-of-school youth.

CHAPTER V
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT

SEC. 11. Government Assistance. — The National Government, through its agencies and
instrumentalities shall provide the following:

a) Education - The Department of Education (DepEd), TESDA and the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), in consultation with the non-government organizations
(NGOs), shall institute a program that will ensure access of our-of-school youth to formal
and non-formal education;

b) Health — The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with local government
units (LGUs) and NGOs, shall institute a national health program and provide an integral
health service for out-of-school youth,

©) Social Service - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in
cooperation with the LGUs, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders shall develop and
implement programs on social services for out-of-school youth, the components of which
are;
1) Social Enhancement Services, which provide the out-of-school youth with
opportunities for socializing, organizing creative expression, and improvement of
self,

2) After Care Services, which provide for support services for out-of-school youth
who are discharged from the homes or institutions of the DSWD, and other
private institutions duly accredited by the DSWD, especially those who have
problems of reintegration with family and the community

4) Employment — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in coordination
with other government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
TESDA shall assess, design, and implement training programs that will provide skills and
welfare or livelihood support for out-of-school youth


CHAPTER VI
MANDATORY TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

SEC. 12, Mandatory Technical/Vocational Education. — It shall be the duty of the State
to provide technical or vocational education to the out-of-school youth. The course shall be
provided and/or managed by TESDA in accordance with its training regulations

SEC. 13. Alternative Learning System. — An alternative learning system of education
shall be made available to out-of-school youth in the barangays.

For out-of-school who are in the custody of a home or an institution managed by the
DSWD, the latter shall coordinate with the DepEd for the provision of an alternative learning
system within its premises.

SEC. 14. Education Cost and Support. - The TESDA shall provide technical and
vocational education services to out-of-school youth free of charge. It shall likewise provide
materials, instruments, and tools that the out-of-school youth may need while enrolled in a
technical/vocational course, and financial support to cover transportation and other related costs
for the duration of the training.

SEC. 15. Entrepreneurial Education, — The DTI, in coordination with TESDA and other
relevant government agencies, shall conduct a training program to provide the out-of-school
youth with the knowledge, skills and motivation to encourage entrepreneurial endeavors. The
program shall include small business management, new approaches on innovation or
introduction of new products or services to the markets.

SEC. 16. Promotion to Formal Tertiary Education. - The Local Social Welfare and
Development Officer may recommend an out-of-school youth to be a recipient of a scholarship
grant from the CHED under either Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality
tertiary Education or Republic Act 10687 or the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for
Tertiary Education Act (UNIFAST).

CHAPTER VII
EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURIAL FACILITATION

SEC. 17. Employment. - Out-of-school youth who have the capacity and desire to work
shall be provided employment opportunities to enable their transition as productive members of
society.

SEC. 18. Entrepreneurial Facilitation- The DTI shall establish a community- based
method of addressing the needs and barriers facing out-of-school youth entrepreneurs. The
objective of entrepreneurial facilitation is to encourage and retain a diverse and robust local
entrepreneurial economy that leads to more opportunities for the out-of-school youth.

SEC. 19. Right to Decent Work. ~The DOLE, in coordination with TESDA, shall ensure
decent work standards for out-of-school youth who have graduated from TVET courses,
including the following minimum guarantees:

a) Local job generation and employment, economic opportunities and providing strict
regulations against forced and involuntary displacement; and

b) Protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of migrant TVET graduates
regardless of work status, and protection against discrimination in wages conditions of
work, and employment opportunities in host countries.

SEC. 20. Social Protection. - The National Poverty Commission and concerned agencies
shall institute policies and programs that seek to reduce the poverty and vulnerability to risks of

4


out-of-school youth by protecting them against the financial hazards of sudden loss of income,
and improving capacity to manage risks,

Further, the State shall ensure that out-of-school youth workers and TVET graduates
shall be provided by their employer with a mandatory life, accident and health insurance
coverage.

CHAPTER VIIL
ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCE

SEC. 21. Especially Difficult Circumstance. — Out-of-school youth who are in especially
difficult circumstances such as victims of sexual and physical abuse, illegal recruitment,
prostitution, trafficking, armed conflict, out-of-school youth in conflict with the law, and such
other related circumstances which have caused functional incapacity in society, shall be provided
with services and interventions as necessary such as:

a) Temporary and protective custody;
b) Medical and dental services;

c) Psychological evaluation;

d) Counseling;

e) Psychiatric evaluation;

f) Legal services;

g) Productivity capability building:
h) Livelihood assistance;

i) Financial assistance;

4) Life skills training, and

k) Health education and information.

SEC. 22. Inter-Agency Support. — The National Youth Commission, in coordination
with the DSWD, DOJ, DOH, DepEd and the Advisory Council created under RA No. 8044, and
concerned LGUs shall lead in facilitating, implementing, monitoring and planning programs for
the rehabilitation of out-of-school youth.

SEC. 23. Duty of the LGU, — it is the duty of the LGU where the out-of-school youth
resides to deliver the necessary services and interventions under their respective jurisdictions.

CHAPTER IX.
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

SEC. 24, Role of Advisory Council - The Advisory Council created under Republic Act
No. 8044 or the “Youth in Nation-Building Act” shall plan, coordinate and monitor yearly work
programs in compliance with the objectives of this Act. It shall formulate and implement a
National Comprehensive Multi-Stakeholder Plan of Action for Out-of-school youth

The Advisory Council shall also coordinate with and ensure that the relevant agencies of
the government have appropriate programs for the out-of-school youth in accordance with the
objectives of this Act.

‘The Advisory Council shall cause the prominent display of information materials in
government institutions and private establishments aimed at generating public awareness on the
rights of out-of-school youth.

SEC. 25. Rule of Local Social Welfare and Development Officer — The Local Social
Welfare and Development Officer shall assist the Advisory Council in the effective
implementation of the provisions of this Act and shall perform the following functions:


a) Draw up a list of available and required services which can be provided for out-of-
school youth;

b) Maintain and regularly update on an annual basis the list of out-of-school youth and to
issue nationally uniform individual identification cards free of charge, which shall be
valid anywhere in the country;

©) Serve as a focal person on the dissemination of general information and feedback in
regard to the needs of the out-of-school youth;

d) Report to the Mayor, any individual, establishment, business entity, institution, or
agency found violating any provision of this Act;

) Coordinate with the Advisory Council to ensure compliance with the provisions of
this Act; and

f) Monitor the compliance of government institutions as well as private establishments to
prominently display information materials such as posters, banners and pamphlets that
will generate public awareness on the rights and welfare of out-of-school youth.

SEC. 26, Penalties. — Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall, upon
conviction, suffer the following penalties:

a) For the first violation, imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than
two (2) years and fine of not less than Fifty Thousand pesos (PS0,000.00) but not more
than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00);

b) For any subsequent violation, imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not
more than six (6) years and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) but not more than Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00);

c) For any person who avails of any of the benefits and privileges granted under this Act
but who is not qualified to avail of the same, imprisonment of not less than six (6) months
and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One
hundred thousand pesos (P 100,000.00);

d) If the offender is a corporation, organization or any similar entity, the officials thereof
directly involved in the violation or abuse shall be held liable.

If the offender is an alien or a foreigner, the person shall be deported immediately upon
service of sentence without further proceedings.

Upon filing of the appropriate complaint or information, the proper authorities, in
coordination with the concerned LGU, shall cause the cancellation or revocation of the business
permit, permit to operate, franchise and other similar privileges granted to any business entity or
person that fails to abide by or violates the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 27. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective implementation of
this Act shall be included in the budget of the concerned government agencies in the annual
General Appropriations Act;

SEC. 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Advisory Council created under
Republic Act No. 8044 shall promulgate, not later than thirty (30) days upon the effectivity of
this Act, the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act
Provided, That the failure to promulgate the rules and regulations shall not prevent the
implementation of this Act upon its effectivity.


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SEC. 29. Separability Clause. — If any provisions of this Act, is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.

SEC. 30. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with that provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly;

SEC. 31. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days afier its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.