NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, almost ten percent of the estimated 39 
million Filipinos 6 to 24 years old are out-of-school children and youth (OSCY). In their 2016 
Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS), OSCY refers to family members 6 to 14 years old 
who are not attending formal school; and family members 15 to 24 years old who are currently 
out of school, not gainfully employed, and have not finished college or post-secondary course. 
The most common reasons among OSCYs for not attending school were marriage or 
family matters (42.3%), high cost of education or financial concerns (20.2%), and lack of 
personal interest (19.7%). Nationwide, about 53 percent of OSCYs belong to families whose 
income fall at the bottom 30 percent based on their per capita income. 
While it can be seen that there are those who choose not to go to school, many are 
forced by their circumstances into not attending school. This is why there is a need to protect 
the rights of these youth who are very vulnerable.  
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
November 23, 2022
8:00 am
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1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session  
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF THE OUT-OF-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;
c) 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;
c) 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
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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)-
registered Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) course/program. 
 
CHAPTER III 
      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 


 
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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; 
c)  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. 
d)  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. 
 


 
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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 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 VIII 
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 


 
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g)  Productivity capability building 
 
h)  Livelihood assistance 
 
i)  Financial assistance 
 
j)  Life skills training 
 
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. Role 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; 
c)  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; 
e)  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 (P50,000.00) but 
not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00); 


 
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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 (P100,000.00); 
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. 
 
 
 
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 after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,