Republic of the Philippines SRE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES oar CEIVED ”
Diliman, Quezon City E

20" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No3299

Introduced by: HON. MARK ANTHONY G. SANTOS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution clearly states, “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.”

This proposed "Local Youth Development Center Act" aims to fulfill this
constitutional mandate by establishing a Youth Development Center in every city
and municipality in the Philippines. This initiative aligns with Republic Act No.
10742 (Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015) and the Philippine Youth
Development Plan (PYDP) 2023-2028 of the National Youth Commission
(NYC).

The PYDP 2023-2028 identifies key "Centers of Youth Participation" such as
Health, Education, Economic Empowerment, Social Inclusion, Peacebuilding,
Governance, Active Citizenship, Environment, Global Mobility, and Agriculture.
Youth Development Centers will directly support these areas by providing
accessible physical spaces for youth programs and services.

Specifically, this bill will institutionalize Local Youth Development by providing
a permanent infrastructure to be attached to the National Youth Commission
(NYC) under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to
operate effectively on a national scale. It also aims to foster holistic development


by offering diverse services, including capacity building, health support,
educational assistance, and civic engagement platforms.

Additionally, this bill endeavors to enhance youth participation to create spaces
for youth dialogues and active involvement in local governance and community
development.

This initiative is a crucial step towards creating a supportive environment for
Filipino youth, empowering them to become productive and patriotic citizens
vital to national progress for all Filipinos.

MARK ANTHONY G. SAI IS
Representative, Lone District of Las Pifias


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Diliman, Quezon City

20 CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No3299

Introduced by: HON. MARK ANTHONY G. SANTOS

AN ACT ESTABLISHING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IN
EVERY CITY AND MUNICIPALITY, PROVIDING FOR THEIR
FUNCTIONS, ADMINISTRATION, AND FUNDING, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Local Youth
Development Center Act."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of
the State to recognize the vital role of the youth in nation-building and to promote
and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. The
State shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their
involvement in public and civic affairs, as enshrined in Section 13, Article II of
the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

This Act aims to further institutionalize and strengthen youth participation at the
local level by establishing dedicated physical spaces that serve as hubs for youth
development programs, services, and activities

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — The following terms, as used herein,
shall mean:


1. Youth - persons whose ages range from fifteen (15) to thirty (30)
years old, as defined in Republic Act No. 8044,

2. Youth Development Center - a dedicated physical facility
established in every city and municipality that serves as a multi-
functional hub for the planning, implementation, monitoring, and
evaluation of youth development programs, projects, and activities,
and as a venue for youth engagement, recreation, and access to
relevant information and services.

3. Local Government Unit (LGU) - refers to the provincial, city, and
municipal governments of the Philippines.

4. Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP) - the national

framework for youth development formulated by the National Youth

Commission (NYC), providing policy direction for the development

of Filipino youth, currently covering the period 2023-2028.

$. Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) - also known as the youth council is
the governing body of the youth assembly or Katipunan ng Kabataan
of every barangay. They are elected by the members of, the
Katipunan ng Kabataan in elections conducted by the Commission
on Elections (COMELEC).

SECTION 4. Establishment of Youth Development Centers, — There
shall be a Youth Development Center established in every city and municipality
in the Philippines. The Youth Development Centers shall be located and designed
in such a way to be accessible to all youth within the LGU's jurisdiction, including
out-of-school youth, youth with disabilities, indigenous youth, and other
marginalized youth groups. These Youth Development Centers shall be attached
to the National Youth Commission (NYC) under the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG).

SECTION 5. Functions and Services of the Youth Development Center.
— The Youth Development Center shall serve as a central hub for youth-related
activities and shall provide, but shall not be limited to, the following functions
and services, aligned with the Centers of Youth Participation identified in the
PYDP 2023-2028:

1. Capacity Building and Training Venue - Serve as a venue for
workshops, seminars, and training programs aimed at enhancing the
skills and competencies of youth, including leadership development,
life skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, financial literacy,


peacebuilding, disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM),
and agricultural development.

2. Youth Engagement and Participation Space - Facilitate platforms
for youth dialogues, forums, consultations, and meetings of youth
organizations (including SK and LYDC) to encourage active
participation in local governance, policy formulation, and
community development. It shall promote volunteerism and civic
projects.

3. Health and Wellness Support - Provide information and referral
services for youth health concerns, including mental health, sexual
and reproductive health, and substance abuse prevention. It shall
promote healthy lifestyles and physical activities.

4. Economic Empowerment Initiatives - Host programs and acti
that promote youth entrepreneurship, livelihood skills training, job-
skills matching, and access to employment facilitation services.

5. Social Inclusion, Gender, and Equity Programs - Serve as a safe
and inclusive space for all youth, promoting awareness and
advocacy against discrimination, abuse, and exploitation based on
gender, ethnicity, disability, and other factors. It shall support
programs for vulnerable youth groups.

SECTION 6. Administration and Management. — The Youth
Development Center shall be under the direct supervision and management of the
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of the respective city or municipality.

Youth organizations and youth volunteers shall be actively involved in the
planning, implementation, and monitoring of Youth Development Center
programs and activities, fostering a youth-led and youth-driven environment.

SECTION 7. Funding — The initial funding for the establishment and
operationalization of Youth Development Centers shall be provided through the
General Appropriations Act (GAA) under the budget for the National Youth
Commission (NYC).

SECTION 8. Monitoring and Evaluation — The National Youth
Commission (NYC), in coordination with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK),
relevant government agencies, and the respective LGUs, shall develop a
comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework. This framework shall
include clear performance indicators, data collection mechanisms, and reporting
requirements to assess the effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of the Youth
Development Centers in achieving their objectives and contributing to the PYDP.
Annual reports on the Youth Development Centers’ performance shall be


submitted to the National Youth Commission (NYC) and Department of Interior
and Local Government (DILG).

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the National Youth Commission
(NYC), as the lead implementing agency in consultation with the Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK), relevant government agencies, relevant youth-serving
organizations, and LGUs, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain
in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.