Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF THE 
OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH” 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Based on the statistical data provided for by the Department of 
Education (DepEd), as of September 21, 2021, around 26.3 million students 
have enrolled for school year 2021-2022 in both public1 and private schools. 
There is a 100.3% increase from the 26.3 million enrollment for 2020. 
However, the dangers brought upon the COVID-19 pandemic up to this day 
impact the number of out-of-school youth in the country. The continued 
increase of the number of out-of-school youth is alarming and should not be 
taken lightly as this will create a problematic impact in their future, their 
families and the country as well. 
It is imperative for the State to create measures that would help the 
out-of-school youth in the country maximize their potentials and encourage 
them to take part in programs that will help secure their future. As such, this 
Bill is being passed to be able to create solutions to the upward trend of the 
number of out-of-school youth in the country and provide opportunities that 
would be beneficial for their well-being.  
This Bill seeks to provide a magna carta of the out-of-school youth in 
the Philippines which shall provide measures that will protect their rights, 
provide equal opportunities, and create programs that will maximize their 
potential. In coordination with a number of government agencies, this Bill will 
become an effective tool in encouraging and assuring that the out-of-school 
youth of the country will become productive members of the society.  
In view of the foregoing the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought. 
EDWIN OLIVAREZ 
1 https://www.rappler.com/nation/deped-report-student-enrollment-school-year-2021-2022 
January 17, 2023
4:00 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
 “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF THE 
OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH” 
Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic 
of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Magna 
Carta of the Out-of-School Youth”.  
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby the declared policy 
of the State to give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect 
and enhance the right of all people to human dignity and reduce social and 
economic inequalities. Towards this end, the State shall adopt measures that 
will ensure that rights of the out-of-school youth are recognized and give 
support to the enhancement of their well-beings.  
SECTION 3. – Definition of Terms. – 
a. “Out-of-School Youth” shall refer to Filipinos aged fifteen (15) years
old to thirty (30) years old who are not enrolled in any educational
institution, not gainfully employed, and have not been able to finish
tertiary level education or any post-secondary course;
b. “Technical and Vocational Education” shall refer to education,
training and skills development relating to a wide range of occupational
fields, production, services and livelihoods;
c. “Local Social Welfare and Development Officer” shall refer to the
officer designated as such under the Office on Social Welfare and
Development Offices.
SECTION 4. The State as the Primary Duty-Bearer – The State, 
through agencies aimed at serving the youth, shall be guided the progressive 
developments in the human rights of out-of-school youth set forth by 
applicable international law. As such, the State shall create measures that 
6788


will serve the best interest of out-of-school youth. It shall institute programs 
that will carry out the following objectives of this Act:  
a. The protection of the rights of out-of-school youth against 
discrimination by private corporations, entities, and individuals;  
b. The substantive equality in the rights of out-of-school youth in 
all spheres of growth and development.  
SECTION 5.  Duties of the State Agencies and Instrumentalities. – 
The duties of the State as stated in the preceding section shall extend to all 
state agencies, offices, and instrumentalities at all levels and government-
owned and controlled corporations, subject to the Constitution and pertinent 
laws, policies, or administrative guidelines that define specific duties or state 
agencies and entities concerned.  
SECTION 6. Human Rights of Out-of-School Youth. – All rights 
enshrined in the Constitution and those rights recognized under international 
instruments duly signed and ratified by the Philippines shall be enjoyed by 
out-of-school youth without any form of discrimination.  
SECTION 7. Protection from Violence. – The State, through its 
appropriate agencies, shall ensure the protection of all out-of-school youth 
from any kind of violence which shall include but shall not be limited to 
physical abuse, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking.  
SECTION 8.  Equal Treatment Before the Law. – The State shall take 
steps to ensure equal treatment of all out-of-school youth. It shall review 
existing laws that are discriminatory to out-of-school youth and, when 
necessary, amend or repeal the same.  
SECTION 9. Representation of Out-of-School Youth Issues and 
Concerns in Media and Film. – The State 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 space, airtime, 
and resources, strengthening programming, production, and image-making 
that appropriately present the out-of-school youth’s needs, issues and 
concerns in all forms of media, communication, information dissemination, 
and advertising.  
 


SECTION 10. Recognition and Preservation of Cultural Identity 
and Integrity. – The State shall prioritize the promotion, preservation and 
protection of the culture and traditions of Moro and indigenous peoples who 
are out-of-school youth. The State shall adopt measures in consultation with 
the concerned sectors to protect their rights, their indigenous knowledge 
systems and practices, traditional livelihood and other manifestations of their 
culture and way of life.  
SECTION 11. Government Assistance. –  The State, through its 
agencies and instrumentalities, shall provide the following to the out-of-
school youth:  
a. Education – The Department of Education (DepEd), Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in consultation with 
appropriate organizations, shall institute programs that will 
provide access to education for out-of-school youth, whether 
formal or non-formal;  
b. Health – The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with 
the appropriate agencies, shall institute a national health 
program and provide integral health service for out-of-school 
youth;  
c. Social Services – The Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD), in cooperation relevant stakeholders, shall 
develop and implement programs on social services for out-of-
school youth. Such programs shall be composed of social 
enhancement 
services 
which 
shall 
focus 
on 
providing 
opportunities for out-of-school youth to socialize, engage in 
activities that focus on creative expression and self-improvement, 
and after-care services for out-of-school youth who have been 
discharged from the homes or institutions of the DSWD, 
especially those who have problems of reintegration with the 
family and the community; 
d. Employment – The Department of Labor and Employment 
(DOLE), in coordination with other government agencies, shall 
initiate programs that will provide skills and welfare or livelihood 
support four out-of-school youth.  
SECTION 12. Mandatory Technical/Vocational Education. –  The 
State, through TESDA, in accordance with its training regulations, shall 
provide mandatory technical/vocational education to the out-of-school youth.  
The technical/vocational education provided for by the State shall be 
free of charge. The State shall also provide the necessary materials, 
instruments and tools in relation to the technical/vocational course that the 


out-of-school youth will be enrolled in. Likewise, the allowance necessary to 
shoulder transportation costs and other essential costs shall be provided for 
by the State.  
 
SECTION 13. Skills Development Coordinators at the Local 
Government Units (LGU). – The LGUs, through the appropriate department, 
shall be in charge of monitoring the progress and development of the out-of-
school youth in the chosen technical/vocational course.  In order to be able 
to monitor the out-of-school youth, the LGU shall require the respective 
institutions to submit, among others, regular enrollment and completion of 
the programs being implemented.  
SECTION 14. Promotion to Formal Tertiary Education. – The local 
Social Welfare and Development Officer (SWDO) may recommend an out-of-
school youth to be a recipient of a scholarship program from the CHED under 
the R.A. No. 10391 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act 
and R.A. No. 10687 or the Unified Student Financial System for Tertiary 
Education Act , subject to qualifications to be set forth by the appropriate 
government agency.  
SECTION 15. Entrepreneurial Education. – The Department of Trade 
and Industry (DTI), in coordination with TESDA and other relevant 
government agencies, shall initiate and conduct training programs that shall 
focus on entrepreneurship such as, but not limited to, small business 
management education in order to hone the entrepreneurial knowledge and 
skills of the out-of-school youth.  
SECTION 16. Alternative Learning System. – The alternative 
learning mode of education shall also be made available to the out-of-school 
youth including those who are in the custody of an institution under the 
DSWD. The DSWD shall coordinate with the DepEd for the provision and 
accessibility of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) within its premises. 
SECTION 17.  Employment. – The State shall encourage the out-of-
school youth to become productive members of the society. As such, the out-
of-school youth who are capacitated and those who desire to work shall be 
provided with employment opportunities.  
SECTION 18. Entrepreneurial Facilitation. – The State shall 
establish a community-based method of addressing the needs and barriers 
facing out-of-school youth entrepreneurs. The objective is to encourage and 


develop a diverse and robust local entrepreneurial economy that will lead to 
more opportunities for the out-of-school youth.  
SECTION 19. Decent Work Conditions for Out-of-School Youth. – 
The State shall ensure that the out-of-school youth who have completed their 
technical/vocational education are provided for with decent work conditions. 
These shall include but shall not be limited to the following guarantees:  
a. Local job generation and employment, as well as other economic 
opportunities and ensuring that the rights against their forced 
and involuntary displacement are enforced;  
b. Promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of migrant 
technical/vocational education graduates regardless of their 
work status, as well as the enforcement of their rights against 
discrimination in wages, conditions of work, and employment 
opportunities in host countries;  
c. Productive 
and 
commensurate 
remuneration 
in 
work 
opportunities, security of tenure in the workplace and better 
prospects for personal development and social integration.  
SECTION 20. Insurance Coverage. – The State shall create measures 
to provide out-of-school youth workers to be covered by a mandatory life, 
accident, and health insurance to be provided by their respective employers.  
SECTION 21. Out-of-School Youth victims of abuse and other 
difficult circumstances. – Out-of-school youth who are victims of sexual 
and physical abuse, illegal recruitment, prostitution, trafficking, armed 
conflict, out-of-school youth in conflict with the law, and other analogous 
circumstances shall be provided services as necessary, such as, but not 
limited to the following:  
a. Temporary protective custody;  
b. Medical and dental services;  
c. Psychological evaluation;  
d. Counseling;  
e. Psychiatric evaluation;  
f. Legal services;  
g. Productivity skill capacity building;  
h. Livelihood assistance;  


i. Financial assistance;  
j. Life skills training; and  
k. Health education and information.  
 
The DSWD, Department of Justice (DOJ), DOH and DepEd), in 
coordination with the appropriate LGU, shall lead in the facilitating, 
implementing, monitoring and planning of the programs set forth in this 
Section for the rehabilitation of the out-of-school youth.  
SECTION 22. Advisory Council. – The Advisory Council created under 
R.A. No. 8044 or the Youth in Nation Building Act shall plan, coordinate, and 
monitor yearly work programs pursuant the provisions of this Act. 
Furthermore, the Advisory Council shall coordinate with the relevant 
government agencies to ensure that the programs as mentioned in this Act 
are initiated.  
SECTION 23. Local Social Welfare and Development Officer. – The 
Local Social Welfare and Development of each LGU shall be responsible in the 
effecting implementation of the provisions of this Act and shall have the 
following functions:  
a. Create a list of available and required services which can be 
provided for out-of-school youth;  
b. Maintain and regularly update the list of out-of-school youth;  
c. Issue individual identification cards free of charge and which 
shall be uniform nationwide that shall be granted validity to be 
used anywhere in the country;  
d. Serve as a general information center to serve the needs of the 
out-of-school youth;  
e. Coordinate with the Advisory Council to ensure compliance with 
the provisions of this Act;  
f. Report to the Chief Executive of the city or municipality any 
individual, establishment, business entity, institution or agency 
in violation of any of the provisions set forth in this Act;  
g. Ensure that government institutions and private establishments 
to prominently display notices that will generate public 
awareness on rights of out-of-school youth.  


SECTION 24. 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 a fine of not less than FIFTY 
THOUSAND PESOS (Php50,000.00) but not more than ONE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (Pl00,000.00);  
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 (Php100,000.00) but not more than 
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php200,000.00); and  
c. Any person who, not being qualified under this Act or with deceit and 
fraudulent machination, shall avail of any of the benefits and privileges 
granted under this Act shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment for not 
less than six (6) months but not more than two (2) years and a fine of 
not less than FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php50,000.00) but not more 
than ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00). 
If the offender is a corporation, organization or any similar entity, the 
officials thereof directly involved in the commission of the act in violation of 
any of the provisions of this Act shall be held liable.  
If the offender is an alien or a foreigner, he 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. 
SECTION 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety 
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Advisory Council and the DSWD, 
in consultation with relevant stakeholders shall promulgate the implementing 
rules and regulations as may be necessary to ensure the efficient and effective 
implementation of this Act,  
SECTION 26. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial 
implementation of the provisions of this Act shall be appropriated from any 
available funds from the National Treasury. Thereafter, any sums as may be 
needed for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) of the respective agencies 
SECTION 27. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected 
thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.  


SECTION 28. Repealing Clause. – All acts, executive orders, 
memorandum circulars/guidelines and other issuances or parts thereof, 
which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.  
SECTION 29. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation 
 
 
APPROVED.