FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
1 
7 JJL -2 
i" 1 : A  
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
~~~~~~~~~ 
ny 
., 
Senate Bill No. 
I1 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERGITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Filipino youth today faces a myriad of issues that need to be 
addressed at the grass root level. Poverty, lack of education, drug or substance 
abuse, vice, crime and unemployment are among the many problems that 
continue to batter them. Likewise, recent issues on the rising number of street 
children in urban centers, child abuse, forced labor and pedophilia are quite 
alarming, aggravating the plight of the youth, 
As an immediate step towards a long-range action plan for them, there is 
a need to establish an integrated youth center in the fifteen (15) regions of the 
country. These youth centers are envisions as halfway houses andlor transient 
shelters, or lodging facilities, with skills and training centers, to cater the youth in 
difficult circumstances who are in need.of immediate attention. 
These centers shall also serve as one-stop youth activity centers, in terms 
of lodging and recreation facilities, venue for livelihood and skills training, 
community service and voluntary work; and extension offices andlor regional 
offices of the government's lead youth agency - the National Youth Commission. 
In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is earnestly 
recommended, 
GGO 
JERCITO ESTRAD 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
1 
7 ,JiiI., -2 
P ; :. , 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 4 3.1 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A YOUTH CENTER IN THE FIFTEEN (15) REGIONS OF THE 
PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be if enacted by fhe Senafe and House of Representatives of fhe Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Youth Center 
Act of the Philippines.” 
SEC 2. Declarafion of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to 
promote and protect the youth’s physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social 
well-being. 
For this purpose, the State shall adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach towards youth development inculcating in them 
patriotism, nationalism and encouraging their involvement in national and 
community affairs, among others. 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act: 
(a) 
Youth - refers to those persons whose age range from fifteen 
(1 5) to thirty (30) years of age; and 
Center - refers to the place established by this Act with 
recreational, educational, health, and social programs hosted 
or lodging-type facilities designed for full access and benefit of 
the youth in a particular region. 
(b) 
SEC 4. Establishment of Centers. - There is hereby established a Youth 
Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, in fifteen (15) regions of the 
Philippines, under the direct supervision of the National Youth Commission, 
hereinafter referred to as the Commission, in collaboration with the Department 
of Social Welfare and Development and its attached agencies, and the 
Department of Education, the local government unit concerned and the private 
sector which includes non-government youth organizations. 
SEC 5. Management of Centers. - All the centers shall be governed by 
an Advisory Board, hereinafter referred to as the National Board, as the national 
policy-making body. 


SEC 6. Composition of the Nafional Board. - The National Board shall 
have the following as members, namely: the Chairman of the Commission, as 
President; the appointive official from the private sector who participated in the 
build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement or franchising agreement with the 
Commission, as Vice-president for Operation; two (2) Commissioners from the 
National Youth Commission and one (1) President of a nationwide non- 
government youth organization, as members. 
SEC 7. Functions of the National Board. - The National Board shall 
perform the following duties and responsibilities: 
Adopt through resolutions, policy guidelines, and implementing 
rules and regulations for all youth centers nationwide; 
Promote inter-regional activities in line with the government's 
national youth program; 
Enter into a joint venture agreements, build-operate-transfer, 
and other feasible economic undertaking with the private sector 
and other non-governmental youth organizations through 
standard bidding procedures; and 
Provide 
relevant 
infrastructure 
support 
such 
as 
communications link up among the fifteen (15) youth centers. 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
( 4  
SEC 8. Administration of Regional Center. - The Center at the Regional 
level shall be operated by a Chief Administrator, hereinafter referred to as the 
Chief, appointed by the Vice-president for Operations. The Chief shall have the 
following duties and responsibilities: 
(a) Implement the policies and decisions adopted by the National Board; 
(b) Administer the day-to-day operations of the Center which include 
reservation, schedule of activities and maintenance, among others; 
(c) Encourage active participation among the youth organizations in the 
(d) Promote youth exchanges and tourism in the national level as well as 
(e) To exercise such other duties and responsibilities in the promotions of 
region as center workers I 
volunteers; 
international level; 
youth development. 
SEC 9. Function of the Cenfer. - The Centers, with the pre-determined 
space by the National Board, shall serve as extensions of the fifteen (15) regional 
offices of the Commission. They shall carry out the following functions: 
(a) Identify the needs, training and opportunities of the regions; 


(b) Initiate, develop and implement productive activities and work 
schemes for the youth in order to provide employment, community and 
social involvement and skills training, among others; 
(c) Promote and maintain linkages with regional government units and 
other instrumentalities of government and the provincial, city and 
municipal councils for the youth and Sangguniang Kabataan, at all 
levels, and other non-government organizations for youth programs 
and projects, facilities, professional advice services, volunteer training 
and community self-help projects; 
(d) Provide a half-way house, transient shelter, or lodging facilities for 
youth in difficult circumstances such as parental abuse, pedophilia, 
forced labor and similar circumstances; and, 
(e) To exercise such other functions which are necessary to carry out the 
purpose for which the centers are established. 
SEC I O .  Site. - The National Board shall determine the location of the 
center in the region, taking into account the following factors, namely: 
(a) accessibility to regional goverqment offices; 
(b) transport infrastructure and services within a twenty-kilometer radius 
from potential tourist attraction; and 
(c) economic feasibility. 
SEC 11. 
Center Workers / Volunteers. - The Chairman of the 
Commission or its regional representative may designate social workers and 
volunteers from the Commission as the workers of the extension office; 
Provided, however, That the Chairman may appoint other personnel who 
possess the necessary professional qualifications to work efficiently with the 
youth of the community. 
The Chairman or its regional representative may also call upon private 
volunteers who are responsible members of the community to provide technical, 
educational and other services and facilities for the youth. 
SEC 12. Qualifications / Disqualification for Chief Administrator. - No 
person who is related with the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity to any 
appointive or elective official shall be appointed as Chief Administrator. 
SEC 13. Exemptions from Duties and Taxes. - The Center shall be 
exempted from the payment of customs, duties, taxes and tariffs in the 
importation of equipment and supplies used actually, directly and exclusively by 
the Center pursuant to this Act, including those donated to the Center. 
SEC 14. 
Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
approval of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with other government 
agencies concerned, shall issue the rules and regulations to effectively 
implement the provisions of this Act. Any violation of this Section shall render the 


concerned officials liable under Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the 
"Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees" and other 
administrative andlor criminal laws. 
SEC 15. Coordinafion of Government Agencies. - The Commission, in 
coordination with the Department of Education and the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development and other government agencies and local government 
units, shall assist in the effective implementation of this Act and provide the 
necessary support services. 
Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the 
year following its enactment into law and every year thereafter. 
The sum necessary for the continuous operations of the centers shall be 
SEC 16. 
subsidized in part by the Commission and in part by the private sector. 
SEC 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended or repealed 
accordingly. 
SEC 18. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved,