FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
' 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 645 
) 
) 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO 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 and/or 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 and/or 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. 
, 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
) 
) 
) 
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 the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Youth Center 
Act of the Philippines." 
SEC. 2. Declaration 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 (15) to 
thirty (30) years of age; and 
(b) 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. 
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 National Board. - The National Board shall 
have the following as members, namely: the Chairman of the Commission, as 
President; the appointive offici,al 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: 
(a) Adopt through resolutions, policy guidelines, and implementing rules 
and regulations for all youth centers nationwide; 
(b) Promote inter-regional activities in line with the government's national 
youth program; 
(c) 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 
(d) Provide relevant infrastructure support such as communications link up 
among the fifteen (15) youth centers. 
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 
region as center workers/volunteers; 
(d) Promote youth exchanges and tourism in the national level as well as 
international level; 
(e) To exercise such other duties and responsibilities in the promotions of 
youth development. 
SEC. 9. Functions of the Center. - 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. 10. 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 government 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 qualifica'tions 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 and/or criminal laws. 
SEC. 15. Coordination 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. 
SEC. 16. 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 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,