Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4084

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH STO. NINO B. BERNOS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘There had been many calls for greater participation of the Filipino youth in the affairs of our
country. Whether it is of politico-economic or socio-cultural in nature, it is highly expected
that the Filipino youth, defined in Section 4 of Republic Act 8044, also known as the ‘Youth
in Nation-Building Act’ as “persons whose ages range from fifteen (15) to thirty (30) years
old,” will play a significant role as they were repeatedly told that they will inherit the mantle
of the leadership of this nation. They have various sources where they can become politically
socialized and can acquire political and civic attitudes, particularly in community

involvement.

‘The paramount purpose behind this proposal to establish a youth development center
in every city and municipality is to harness these political and civic attitudes in one forum to
find solutions and suggestions for youth concerns based on the perceptions of the youth
themselves. These youth development centers will serve to complement the formal schooling
in a classroom setup. Specifically, youth development centers will become a place to gather
all young people to share best practices in various areas (be it sports, arts, education,
livelihood, and even  politically-inclined discussions), and to develop community

involvement.


Youth development centers are to be realized as a starting point to develop the
leadership capabilities of our Filipino youth. It is to be seen as a valuable space for the pursuit
of youth-related activities and as a repository of informational materials that are crucial to
the academic excellence of many young people. Furthermore, the establishment of a youth
development center will enhance grassroots participation in developing youth-oriented

policies and in consolidating youth voice in local and national issues.

This Bill seeks to mandate the establishment of at least one (1) youth development
center in every city and municipality in the country, in order to provide a venue to develop
the skills of the young people, to instill community involvement, and to serve as a forum for

social development. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this Bill is highly sought.

HON. JOSEPH STO. NINO B. BERNOS
Representative
Lone District/Abra


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4084

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH STO. NINO B. BERNOS

AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
IN EVERY CITY AND MUNICIPALITY IN THE COUNTRY, CREATING THE
YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

CHAPTERI
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title. —This act shall be known as the “Youth Development

Center Act of 2016”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It shall be the policy of the State to encourage the
development of political and civic attitudes of the Filipino youth by mobilizing resources to

promote their involvement in community affairs.

The State affirms that the youth possesses a vital role in nation-building, and
recognizes its role in promoting and protecting their physical, moral, intellectual, spiritual,

and social well-being. Thus, to achieve this end, it shall be declared the policy of the State to


consolidate the efforts to pursue youth involvement through the construction of youth

development centers where such related activities will be conducted.

‘The State further recognizes the constitutionally-mandated freedom of speech, of
expression, or of the press, and the right to peaceably assemble and to petition the
government to redress grievances as crucial conditions in creating a democratic atmosphere
for youth development. Thus, it is hereby declared a policy of the State to apply these rights

in the context of youth development towards greater community involvement.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. ~For the purpose of this act, the following terms shall

mean and be understood as follows:

(a) “Center” — It shall refer to the physical structure or a building complete with
facilities for youth-related activities;

(b) “Youth” —It shall refer to individual Filipino citizens within the age range of fifteen
(15) to thirty (30) years old;

(©) “Youth-Serving Organizations” — It shall refer to organizations that are either
youth-led or youth-oriented, including ideology-based, school-based, faith-based,
and community-based, that implement projects towards youth development; and

(d) “Youth Development” — It shall refer to an agenda to harness the abilities of the
Filipino youth in various fields like education, culture and the arts, sports, and

environment to name a few, towards their greater roles in nation-building,

See. 4. Coverage. - The Center shall only cater to activities by and for the Filipino
youth. Such activities must be of, but not limited to, the following fields: education, culture

and the arts, sports, environment, and livelihood.

Sec. 5. Objectives of the Center. — The following are to be the objectives of the

Center in carrying out the provisions of this Act:


(a) To provide a sizeable space and adequate facilities for the conduct of projects
executed by youth-serving organizations, and activities by small groups of Filipino
youth;

(b) To encourage community involvement and voluntarism among the Filipino youth;
and

(c) To bring government projects closer to the youth sector.
CHAPTER II
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

Sec. 6. Establishment. — There shall be at least one (1) Youth Development Center
in every city and municipality that shall have a sizeable space and adequate equipment for

activities, and shall have a small administrative staff.

Provided, that the Centers, whether newly-built or occupying a previously vacated
building, must conform to the standards set by applicable provisions of Republic Act 6541,

also known as the National Building Code of the Philippines.

Provided further, that the plaques commemorating the construction of the Centers
must only bear the date of inauguration and the following words: “A Project of the

Government of the Republic of the Philippines for the Youth of the City/Municipality of

Sec. 7. Facilities of the Center. — All Centers throughout the country must have

the following basic facilities:

(a) A spacious Activity Area that can seat eighty to one hundred (80-100) people for
public consultations, discussions, meetings, and other activities, with a spacious

stage;


(b) One (1) Learning Resource Center, or the city/municipal library relocated in the
Center, that can seat twenty (20) people, complete with valuable and up-to-date
reading materials and at least two (2) fully-functioning computer units for
research; and

(c) An Administrative Office for the employees and volunteers of the Center.

Highly urbanized cities, and municipalities from first- to second-class municipalities

must add one of the following facilities or both:

(d) Performance Room that can hold fifteen (15) people, equipped with basic sound
system and enclosed with mirrors for dance and theater practices, and other artistic
and cultural performance practice sessions; and/or

(e) Seminar Rooms that can seat twenty (20) people for lectures, discussions, and

seminars;

The usage of the Center shall be free of charge. Provided, that the activity to be
conducted within the facilities of the Center shall be coordinated first with the administrative
office and are not income-generating in nature. Provided further, that activities of income-

generating in nature will be charged a minimal fee to be set by the Center Policy Board.

Sec. 8. Accessibility — The Center shall be not exclusive for activities of the
Sangguniang Kabataan, youth-serving organizations, and national government agencies.
Access to the facilities of the Center shall be made open to all young people in the

city/municipality non-affiliated to the aforementioned.

Sec. 9. Creation of the Center Policy Board — Before the construction of the
Center, a Center Policy Board shall be convened immediately by the Sangguniang Kabataan
(SK) Pambayang/Panglungsod na Pederasyon. The Center Policy Board shall be given the

following responsibilities:


(a) Consolidate Development Plans of SK councils, assess the needs of the youth sector
in their locality, and identify what will be the focal concerns that shall guide the
construction of the Center;

(b) Formulate a Plan of Action, containing programs and projects compiled from
proposals of youth-serving organizations and Katipunan ng Kabataan in every
barangay, and from ongoing projects of national government agencies that can be
applied to the youth sector;

(©) Appoint the center officials as specified in Section 11 of this Act;

(d) Monitor and evaluate the implementation of activities, the performance of the staff,
and the condition of the facilities of the Center; and

(©) Prepare an Annual Report on the performance and finances of the Center.

Sec. 10. Composition of the Board — There shall be a Center Policy Board in every

city and municipality composed of the following officials:

(a) President of SK Pambayang/Panglungsod na Pederasyon as Chairperson;

(b) Three (3) SK Chairpersons who are not elected as officers of the Local Executive
Committee of the SK Pambayang Pambayang/Panglungsod na Pederasyon, elected
by their fellow SK Chairpersons for this purpose; and

(c) Three (3) representatives of the youth-serving organizations, elected from amongst
themselves in a local conference organized for that purpose, who shall be serving,

for one (1) year.

Provided, that the elected representatives of youth-serving organizations are not
related to any incumbent elected national, local, or barangay official and those mentioned in

items (a) and (b) of this section within the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity.


Provided further, that if a city or a municipality has fewer than five (5) barangays, the
officers of the Local Executive Committee of that city or municipality shall occupy the posts

stated in (b).

Sec. 11. Center Officials. — The Center Policy Board shall appoint a Center
Administrator who shall serve as the general manager of the Center. The Center
Administrator shall be tasked to properly manage the Youth Community Service program
and to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the Center. The Center Administrator shall serve for
three (3) years, starting from the date of appointment to the position. Provided, that a
candidate for the position of Center Administrator shall be not older than thirty-five 35) years

old, but shall not be younger than twenty-four (24) years old.

The Center Administrator shall be aided in administrative matters by two
administrative assistants. One shall be designated as the Internal Affairs Officer, who shall
be tasked to monitor the usage of the facilities and their maintenance on a day-to-day basis.
The other one shall be designated as the External Affairs Officer, who shall be tasked to
coordinate with the community and the national and local government agencies on the

proposed conduct of projects in the Center.

A Center Librarian shall also be appointed in accordance with the standards set forth
for Librarians by the Professional Regulatory Commission. Furthermore, a Finance Officer
shall be appointed to take custody of the funds of the Center, and to disburse them in

accordance to prevailing laws.

The aforementioned Center officials shall be appointed in accordance to existing rules
and regulations on the appointment of public officials. No Center official shall be related to
any incumbent elected national, local, or barangay official or to any member of the Center

Policy Board within the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity.


CHAPTER II
YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE

Sec. 12. Functions. ~ There shall be a Youth Community Service in every Center

which shall be composed of volunteering youth within the city/municipality. ‘The Youth

Community Service shall serve as the volunteering arm of the Center, as shall have the

following responsibilities:

(a) To assist in maintenance of the Center's facilities and properties;

(b) To hold peer group sessions on various national, local, and societal issues with
interested fellow youth;

(c) To share their talents with the youth of their city/municipality through their own
activities approved by the Center Policy Board; and

(d) To provide assistance in facilitating activities held in the Center.

See. 13. Organization. — The members of the Youth Community Service must be a
resident of the city/municipality where the Center they wish to be part of is located. There
shall be no overarching leadership mechanism. prevailing among the youth members.
Instead, the Center will facilitate a rotating presidency of the meetings based on seniority in

membership and that decisions made will be based on consensus.
CHAPTER IV

FUNDING AND AUDIT

Sec. 14. Initial Expenses of Each Center. — The costs of the construction of the

Center shall be shouldered by both local government units and national government agencies.

Sec. 15. Share of the Local Government Unit. ~ The local government unit, as

part of its efforts to pursue youth development, shall be mandated to shoulder fifty percent


(50%) of the costs specified in Section 14. The remaining fifty percent (50%) shall be covered

by funds appropriated to the implementing agencies for this matter.

Third- up to sixth-class municipalities may cover only twenty-five percent (25%) of the
initial cost, subject to meritorious exceptions granted to them as certified by the Department

of Budget and Management; in which case, the Provincial Government shall be empowered

to intercede to cover for the remaining twenty-five percent (25%).

Sec. 17. Audit of Funds. — The Commission on Audit is hereby empowered to
conduct audit on the finances of the Centers, and shall submit their findings to the Center

Policy Board, the City/Municipality Mayor, and the National Youth Commission.
CHAPTER V
FINAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 18. Relation with Sangguniang Kabataan. ~ The Center shall have an
agreement with the Sangguniang Kabataan Pambayang/Panglungsod na Pederasyon, with
the Center providing information dissemination mechanism for the Pederasyon, and the
Pederasyon providing logistical support and assisting in recruiting members for the Youth

Community Service.

Sec. 19. Institutional Linkages. — National government agencies, through their
local offices in cities and municipalities, shall coordinate with the Centers should they have

to conduct a project in the city/municipality.

Sec. 20. Appropriations. ~The amount necessary to implement the provisions of

this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 21. Schedule of Constructions. — Recognizing the time and budget

constraints that may hamper the immediate implementation of this Act, it is hereby provided


that the construction of Centers must be complete and all Centers fully operational within the
period of ten (10) years. Non-compliance of local government units with this provision shall
be penalized by obligating the local government unit to shoulder seventy percent (70%) of the

initial cost of Centers.

Sec. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The National Youth

Commis

‘ion, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department
of Interior and Local Government, shall promulgate and issue the necessary guidelines for
the implementation of this Act and for the operation of the Centers within sixty (60) days

after the effectivity of this Act.

Sec. 23. Separability Clause. ~ If for any reason, a provision or part of hereof is

declared invalid, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 24. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby replaced or

modified accordingly.

Sec. 25. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,