Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  1321 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill which seeking to create a magna carta for the out-of-school youth in the country 
has already been approved by the House of Representatives on its 3rd and final reading in the 
17th Congress. However, it has not yet ripened into a law, thereby necessitating the filing of the 
same on account of the primordial role of the youth in nation building as formidable social 
economic force. 
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 
(Section 13, Article II, 1987 Constitution). 
Our constitution is strongly worded in giving ample directive to protect the young, 
especially the out-of-school youth. To this end, the government in recent years has been very 
active in providing general services to the out-of-school youth. In 2018, the Philippine Statistics 
Authority’s Annual Poverty Indicator Survey recorded a decrease in the number of out-of-school 
youth aged 16 to 24, from 3.8 million individuals in 2016 to 3.6 million in 2017. However, 
despite the decrease, it is still alarming to have a 3.6 million out-of-school youth in the midst of 
Filipino families. In fact, the Philippine Statistics Authority also reported an increase in out-of-
school youth aged 6 to 11 and 12 to 15. The increase is mainly attributed to poverty and lack of 
income opportunities. There is, therefore, a need to adopt bolder measures to rapidly decrease in 
strides the incidence of out-of-school youth in the country. 
Hence, there is a necessity to pass this legislative measure to encapsulate in a magna 
carta the various programs and incentives of the government for the out-of-school youth with 
the end in view of integrating them back into the fold of formal and non-formal education. 
Accordingly, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
July 7, 2025
8:05 am


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  1321
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
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 I 
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 recognize 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 wellbeing 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 provide 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 15to 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, defacto 
equality and equality in outcomes; 
(e) 
Technical/Vocational Education refers to the aspects of education process 
involving, in addition to general education, the study of technologies and 
related 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 saving 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, entities, 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 specific duties 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 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 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 
manifestations of their cultures and ways of life recommend legislation 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 non-
government organizations (NGOs),


shall institute a program that will ensure access of out 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 Services - 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 support services for out-
of-school youth who are discharged from the homes and 
institutions of 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. 
 
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. 
 
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 endeavours. 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 
Development Officer may recommend an out-of-school youth to be 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 ENTERPRENEURAL 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 the out-of-school youth who have 
graduated from TVET courses, including the following minimum guarantees: 
a) Local job generation and employment, economics opportunities and 
providing strict regulations against forced and voluntary displacement; 
and 
 
b) Protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of migrant VET 
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 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 
 
g) Productivity capability building 
 
h) Livelihood assistance 
 
i) Financial assistance 
 
j) Life skills and 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 in 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 in 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; 


f) 
Monitor the compliance of the 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. Role of Non-Government Organization - Non government organizations or 
private volunteer organizations dedicated to the promotion, enhancement, and support of 
the welfare of out-of-school youth are hereby encourage to become partners of 
government in the implementation of programs and projects for the out-of-school youth. 
CHAPTER X 
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT 
SEC. 27. 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); 
b) 
For any subsequent violation, imprisonment of not less than two (2) years 
but not more than six (6) years and a fine 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 (50,000.00) but not more than One hundred Thousand pesos 
(100,000.00); 
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 a 
person that fails to abide by or violates the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 28. 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. 29. 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. 30. Separability Clause. - If any provision 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. 31. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and regulations 
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended 
or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 32. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,