FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATcf 
S.B. No.1 76 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution has enshrined the principle of the State 
recognizing the role of the youth in nation-building and that it shall promote and protect 
their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. Further, it shall 
inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism and encourage their involvement in 
public and civic affairs. 
, 
The care for the total well-being of the youth has been given emphasis by the 
basic framework of the law and yet the youth seems to be a neglected and 
underestimated sector in our society. There is a need therefore to craft a specific 
working framework that will. be the guiding principles of the youth as they trudge the 
road to growth and in the realization of our nationa'l hero's dream that the youth is the 
hope of the motherland. 
This bill proposes to concretize the ideals of the Constitution h institutionalizing 
the rights and freedoms and protection of the, youth in all aspects of their lives. This 
puts into reality the tenet of youth empowerment which should have long been extended 
to this young generation. 
In this way, the youth will not lose their way iii carrying out then important 
constitutional role in nation building. The support to our youth must not only be full but 
also unconditional because in their hands depend the future of the country and our 
people. 
The approval of this bill is therefore recommended. 
MAN YV LLAR 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATO 
" 
t'<-
'"'\ 
S.B. No. 1 iti 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
1 !) 
.lUI. -B P 4 :3!1' . 
AN ACT RECOGNIZING THE POTENTIALS OF THE FILIPINO YOUTH TOWARD 
NATION-BUILDING, PRESCRIBING THE FREE EXERCISE OF CERTAIN RIGHTS 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be cited as the "Magna Carta for Youth." 
ARTICLE I . 
Declaration of Principles 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to promote and protect the rights and welfare of the youth to enable them to actively and 
effectively participate in democratic processes of effecting progress and socio-political 
and moral transformation. 
SECTION 3. Guiding Principles. - The State shall recognize the vital role of the 
Filipino youth in nation-building, hence, the imperative of giving them their due share of 
moral duties and responsibilities toward themselves, the society and their country. 
Toward this end, the youth shall be encouraged to be actively involved in public and 
civic affairs, in the promotion and protection of their physical, moral, spiritual, 
intellectual, and social well-being and in the enhancement of an orderly, harmonious, 
sustainably progressive and politically determined society. All efforts shall be exerted by 
the State to remove any form of prejudices against the youth. 
The State shall continue to extend full support for the youth's total well-being and 
for their consequent recognition as "the nation's only hope for the future". Government 
in all levels shall adopt policies ensuring their empowerment, emancipation; self-
reliance and development through the enhancement of their skills and potentials that 
will enable them to compete favorably for available opportunities, become significant 
contributors to national progress and foster more meaningful, productive and satisfying 
life. 
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall mean: 
"Youth" refers to any individual belonging to the 15-24 age range. Youth may be 
classified according to the following SUb-sectors: 
, 
a) In-School Youth refers to those who are either attending formal or non-formal 
educational programs. 
' 
b) Out-of-School Youth refers to those who are neither enrolled in any formal or 
vocational/technical school. 
c) Working youth refers to those who are either employed, whether self-employed 
or employed by a public or private institution. 
d) Special Youth are marginalized youth who need special care, attention and 
protection as those who are incapacitated. or disabled physically, mentally or 


psychologically, or those who are in the rnidst of armed conflict or victims of 
oppression and criminality. 
ARTICLE II 
Access to Labor and Employment 
SECTION 5. Youth Protection from Economic Exploitation. - The State shall 
recognize the right of the youth to be protected fr.om economic exploitation and from 
performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the youth's 
education, or to be harmful to the youth's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or 
social development. It shall take legislative, administrative, social and educational 
measures to ensure the implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 6. Equal Opportunity and Treatment. - The youth shall be free from 
any form of discrimination, with respect to recruitment and conditions of employment, 
such that they may enjoy equal opportunities for admission to employment, medical and 
social assistance, safety as well as other occupationally-related benefits, informed of 
their rights under existing labor legislation and of means available to them for redress, 
not subject to any coercive recruitment systems, included bonded labor; and other 
forms of debt servitude; and equal treatment in labor and employment for the youth, 
including the protection from sexual harassment. 
SECTION 7. Prohibition Against Discrimination in Employment. No qualified 
youth shall be discriminated against with regard to job applicant procedures, hiring, 
promotion, or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training, and other 
terms, conditions, privileges, benefits, fringe benefits, incentives or allowances as a 
qualified able bodied person on account of his or-her age, handicap, socio-economic 
status, sexual, religious and political orientation or membership in an organization, club, 
or grouping. 
ARTICLE III 
A. Access to Education 
SECTION B. Access to Education. - 1) The State shall ensure that the youth 
are provided with adequate access to quality education and ample opportunities to 
develop their skills. It shall take appropriate steps to provide the needs of the special 
youth with respect to the use of school facilities, class schedules, physical education 
requirements, and other pertinent consideration. 
2) The youth shall have the right to relevant and competent instruction vis-a-vis 
their personal and cultural development and that of the nation. 
a) No youth shall be denied admission to any school on account of his or her 
handicap, socio-economic status, sexual, political or religious orientation, or 
membership in any organization, nor shall pregnant students and certified 
reformed drug abusers be discriminated against. 
b) Youth shall have the right to freely choose their field of study and to continue 
such up to graduation except in case of academic deficiency or violation of 
disciplinary regulatiol\1s which do not infringe upon the exercise of their rights. 
c) School administration shall provide the youth with adequate welfare services and 
academic facilities which include, but not limited to: free annual general physical 
check-up to students, adequate laboratory, library, research, recreation and 
physical education facilities, including the prompt notification of stUdents 
concerned of letters and other communications it receives in behalf of students. 
SECTION 9. Scholarship Assistance. - Qualified and deserving student-youth shall 
have access to scholarship assistance through grants, student loan programs, 
subsidies, and other incentives in both public and private schools. The National Youth 
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Commission in coordination with the Department of Education shall venture any 
undertaking to sort out funds for this purpose. 
B. Academic Freedom 
SECTION 10 . Academic Freedom. - Pursuant to the principles of this Act,. the 
following rights are hereby granted to the youth, and the exercise of such rights are 
hereby mandated: 
a) freedom of inquiry within the campus, in curricular activities and in the 
extracurricular student affairs; 
, 
b) access information on matters of public concerns; 
c) hear any opinion on any subject of public or general concern, whether or not 
related to any subject they may be currently. studying, which they believe worthy 
of consideration; 
d) invite outside speakers, and the school auttiorities may not veto their invitation 
solely on the basis of the credentials of the speaker; 
e) refuse any form of attempt to subject him or her to a process of indoctrination 
that will impose on him or her ideological homogeneity; 
f) free research in connection with academic work, and the publication, discussion 
and exchange of his findings and recommendations; 
g) question their curricula and if necessary, subject them to review and revision; 
h) information on matters directly or indirectly affecting their welfare including 
access to official records and other pertinent"documents and papers pertaining to 
of official acts, transactions or decisions; 
i) 
adequate welfare services and curricular activities; and 
j) publish regular independent and student-controlled publications and/or print, 
circulate and/or mount leaflets, newsletter, posters, wall news, petitions and such 
other materials. 
SECTION 11. Conditional Admission. - No school policy shall oblige, compel, 
or demand or cause demand or pressure to a youth. to sign waiver documents in 
exchange for admission or enrollment or re-admittance to the school. 
SECTION 12. Prohibition Against Banning Youth To Assemble. - No youth 
shall be banned from taking part on an assembly nor shall they be arrested or detained 
for doing so. Student-youth shall not be required to ask prior permit for assemblies 
inside campuses. 
SECTION 13. Freedom From Unwarranted interference. - To guarantee the 
freedom of student-youth from unwarranted interference while exercising their academic 
freedom granted herein this Act: 
a) Military detachments shall not be installed in campuses. 
b) Military elements and school security forces shall not interfere with student 
activities inside campuses, in particular student protest actions. 
c) No plainclothes pOlicemen will be allowed entry into campuses, particularly 
during peaceful mass actions. 
ARTICLE IV 
Access To Health Care and Services 
SECTION 14. Access to Health Care and Services. - 1) The youth has the right 
to the highest standard of health and medical care attainable. The State shall place 
special emphasis on the provision of primary and preventive health care, public health 
education and the reduction of infant mortality. Toward this end, a comprehensive 
health consciousness program shall be undertaken to ensure the survival of the youth 
against dreaded infectious and communicable diseases. 
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2) The State shall promote the exchange of appropriate information in the field of 
preventive health care and of medical, psychological and functional treatment of 
disabled youth, including dissemination of and access to information concerning 
methods of rehabilitation, education and vocational services, with the aim of enabling 
the State to improve their capabilities and skills and to widen their experience in these 
areas. 
SECTION 15. Sexual Health Needs. - The right of the youth in meeting their 
special sexual health needs shall not be abridged. Free access to sex education, family 
planning, reproductive health services, and other forms of precautionary measures 
against unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases among 
them shall be promoted. Toward this end, the Commission on Population (POPCOM) in 
consortium with the Department of Health (DOH) and all line-agencies of government 
concerned shall provide comprehensive family' planning and STD services and 
educational arid recreational activities alongside sexuality education specifically for the 
youth and as much as it is possible to make these programs highly accessible and 
acceptable to a broad spectrum of youth. 
ARTICLE V 
A. Free Expression and Information 
SECTION 16. Access to Information. - The State shall ensure the accessibility 
to youth of information and material from a diversity of sources, and it shall encourage 
the mass media to disseminate information which is of social and cultural benefit to the 
youth, and take steps to protect him or her from harmful materials. 
SECTION 17. Free and Responsible Expression. - a.) The right of the youth to 
freely and responsibly express their sentiments, views, aspirations and to gather, share, 
solicit ideas and publish information relevant to their interest and welfare shall not be 
abridged. 
b). Arresting or detaining a youth on the sole basis of disseminating or circulating 
leaflets, petitions, newsletters, posters, wall news,and similar materials is prohibited. 
Banning a youth or youth organization from expressing his or her or its sentiments, 
stance or views through any medium of communication is likewise prohibited. 
c). The exercise of such rights may be subjected :to certain restrictions, but this shall 
only be such as are provided by law and are necessary: 
1) for respect of the rights or reputations of others; or 
2) for the protection of national security or public order, or of public health or morals. 
SECTION 18. Inviolability of Communication and Correspondence. - a. The 
privacy of communication and correspondence among youth shall be inviolable. b. No 
youth shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his or her privacy, family, home or 
correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honor and reputation. The youth 
has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. 
SECTION 19. Prohibition Against Any Form of Meddling in Student 
Publication. - Nonmembers of the student publication are prohibited from indulging any 
form of demand, pressure, force to cause influence and determine the content of the 
publication. The editor shall take full responsibility for consequences ariSing from the 
publication of articles. The role of faculty advisers in high school and college student 
publications shall be limited only to technical guidance. Toward this end: 
a) No school administration shall serve as a sale authority in selecting the editor. The 
selection of the editor may be made by competitive examination supervised by a 
Board of Judges, which shall include stUdents as members. 
b) Editors shall enjoy security of tenure, which shall not be terminated before the lapse 
of the prescribed term usually for the school year. 
c) Student publication shall have the right of access to institutional records. 
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B. Organization and Free Assembly 
SECTION 20. Right to Organize. a) The State shall recognize the rights of the 
youth to form and join association and the freedom to peaceably assemble. No 
restrictions may be placed on the exercise of these rights other than those imposed in 
conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests 
of national security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or 
morals of the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. 
b) Subject to existing laws, the youth shall have the right to peaceably assemble and 
petition the government and/or any private institution for the redress of their grievances. 
Pursuant thereto, no regUlation shall be imposed violating or abridging the youth's right 
to assembly. The right of the youth to join or not to join any particular organization shall 
he totally respected and no form of intimidation or harassment shall be tolerated. 
Toward this end: 
1) Involuntary efforts to make youth sign waiver documents denying membership of 
and promising not to join a specified organization as pre-requisite for enrollment 
. or job acceptance is hereby prohibited. 
. 
2) The existence of any youth organization shall be subjected only to regulations 
that do not unduly hamper their activities and that are formulated with genuine 
youth participation. 
. 
3) Youth organizations shall be governed by' minimum reasonable requirements, 
that is, the submission of the organization's constitution or by-laws, list of officers 
of the organization and a letter or notification by at least an adviser chosen by the 
organization. 
SECTION 
21. Student Council/Government. -
Schools, 
colleges 
and 
universities shall recognize and ensure the democratic and autonomous existence of 
student councils/governments. 
SECTION 22. Prohibition Against the ;Use of Force and Exaction of 
Excessive Fees. a) Imposing, demanding or any form of exacting excessive fees from 
a youth or youth organization other than fees which are provided by law is prohibited. 
Toward this end, the youth shall not be caused, demanded or obliged to pay, donate, 
share, give, ask or solicit any mode of exacting payment, donation or contribution for 
any reason or cause. 
b) Giving out solicitation forms or distributing tickets or any form of exacting money or 
anything of monetary value from the student-youth or causing, demanding or obliging 
them to pay, donate or contribute money or anything of value are prohibited unless a 
written prior approval from the Local School Board is sought. The approval notice of the 
Local School Board should manifest the following: name of the sponsoring agency, title 
of the project, noble objectives of the project and the specific program and the duration 
of the activity to be undertaken. All sponsoring agencies who may indulge into similar 
project or any form of income-generating activity invoking the stUdent youth shall be 
required to submit a written report of monetary income or otherwise generated from the 
project to the Local School Board. 
C. Participation in Policy Formulation 
SECTION23. Involvement in Policy Formulation. The youth shall have the 
right to be involved in the formulation of policies that directly or indirectly affect them. 
They shall be represented in all policy making bodies of State and private-owned 
schools, colleges and universities. 
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SECTION 24. School Fee Board. -Within thirty (30) days from the start of the 
school year the goveming board of every school shall create an independent body to be 
known as the School Fee Board which shall studY,conduct consultation and thereafter 
recommend on tuition and other school fee increases. This body shall be composed of 
ah equal number of representatives from the administration, academic staff, parents, 
student-youth and alumni associations. 
These representatives shall choose a chairman from among themselves. 
SECTION 25. Participation In Screening Incoming Teachers. The youth shall 
have the right to participate in the screening committee for incoming teachers and, to 
make a written performance evaluation of their teachers toward the end of the school 
term. 
D. Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religio,'n 
SECTION 26. Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion. - The State 
shall respect the right of the youth to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. 
Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subjected only to such limitations 
as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health and 
morals, or the fundamental rights and freedom of others. 
ARTICLE .VI. 
Political Repression 
SECTION 27. Freedom From Violence, Harassment and Discrimination. - a) 
The State shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational 
measures to protect the youth from all forms of physical and mental violence, injury or 
abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual 
harassment, while in the care of parents, legal guardians or any other persons who has 
the authority over the youth. 
b) Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for 
the establishment of social programs to provide necessary support for the youth and for 
those who have the authority over the youth, as well as for other forms of prevention 
and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of 
instances of youth maltreatment described heretofore, arid, as appropriate, for judicial 
involvement. 
SECTION 28. Grants and Privileges. Opposition to institutional policies inimical 
to youth's interest shall not be a ground for denying':or withdrawing grants and privileges 
due to deserving youth. 
SECTION 29. Non-Validity of Blacklisting, 'Expulsion, Suspension and other 
Disciplinary Sanctions. The blacklisting, expulsion, suspension, and other such 
disciplinary sanctions that maybe taken against a youth shall not be valid unless the 
following rights have been observed and accorded the youth: 
a) presumption of innocence; 
b) remain silent, to the assistance of counsel, and to be informed of these rights; 
c) procedural faimess in disciplinary proceedings; 
d) be punished for act that were not grounds for disciplinary action when they were 
committed; 
e) written notice of the charges and reasonable time to answer them and prepared 
for the hearing; 
f) a hearing before suspension or expulsion; 
g) be informed in writing of the nature and cause of the accusation against him or 
her; 
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h) confront witnesses against him or her and to full access the evidence in the case; 
i) 
defend himself/herself and to be defended by a representative or counsel of 
his/her choice, adequate time being given him/her for the preparation of his/her 
defense; 
j) 
a hearing before an impartial adjudicatory body; 
k) against self-incrimination; 
I) 
appeal adverse decisions; and 
m) the decision in any disciplinary proceeding must be rendered on the basis of 
relevant and substantial evidence presented at the hearing, or at least contained 
in the record and disclosed to the person affected. 
SECTION 30. Due Process. - No youth shall be held liable for any offense 
without due process. Arbitrary administrative measures and penalties for youth shall not 
be allowed. Pursuant to the provision of this section, the youth shall be vested the 
following rights: 
a) to freedom from arbitrary arrest, from arbitrary searches and seizures. and the 
right to resort to the writ of habeas corpus ·and to speedy, impartial and public 
trial 
b) to reasonable bail, and the right to freedom from double jeopardy, excessive 
fines arid cruel or unusual punishment; and 
c) to defend himself/herself, to be heard and to present evidence on his/her behalf 
before an impartial body. 
SECTION 31, Unreasonable Searches and Seizures. - Every youth shall be free 
from any form of unreasonable search and seizure. Except for the following instances 
no search or seizure of a student shall be deemed valid: 
a) Searches made at the point of ingress and egress by designated authority; 
b) Searches and seizures of illegal article or articles falling in the plain view of duly 
designated authority; 
c) Searches and seizures of articles that are illegal, discovered inadvertently by 
duly designated authority; 
d) Searches made when the youth is about to commit, is committing or has just 
committed a crime or a serious infraction of the law; and 
e) Searches made with a valid search warrant. . 
Articles seized in violation of the herein above provided rights shall not he used 
as evidenced against the youth in any disciplinary a,Ction that may be brought 
against him/her. 
SECTION 32. Access to Personal Records and Confidential Treatment. -
Subject to the prOVision of the following section,. every youth shall have access to 
his/her own personal records, the confidentiality of which institutions concerned shall 
maintain. 
SECTION 33. Torture and Deprivation of Liberty. - No youth shall be 
subjected to torture, cruel treatment or punishment, unlawful arrest or deprivation 
of liberty. Both capital punishment and life imprisonment without the possibility of 
release are prohibited for offenses committed by youths below 18 years. 
ARTICLE VII 
General Provisions 
SECTION 34. Recognition of their Rights. - The State shall recognize that a 
mentally or physically disabled youth should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions 
which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance, and facilitate the youth's active participation 
in the community. 
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SECTION 35. Special Care. The State recognizes the right of the disabled youth 
to special care and shall encourage and ensure the extension, subject to available 
resources, to the eligible youth and those responsible for his or her care, of assistance 
for which application is made and which is appropriate to the youth's condition and to 
the circumstances of the parents or others caring fot the youth. 
SECTION 36. Special Needs. - Recognizing the special needs of a disabled 
youth, assistance extended in accordance with ·the preceding paragraph shall be 
provided free of charge, whenever possible, taking into account his or her family's 
financial resources, and shall de designed to ensure that the disabled youth has 
effective access to and receives education, training, health care services, rehabilitation 
services, preparation for employment and recreation opportunities in a manner 
conducive to the youth's achieving the fullest possible social integration and individual 
development, including his or her cultural and spiritual development. 
SECTION 37. Youth in Indigenous Cultural Communities. - a) The State shall 
respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life 
and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities of cultural and 
artistic, recreational and leisure activity. 
b) Youth in indigenous cultural communities have the right to enjoy their cultural and to 
practice their own religion and language. 
SECTION 38. Protection against Drug Abuse. The State shall take all 
appropriate measures, including legislative, administrative, social and educational 
measures, to protect the youth from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic 
substances as defined in the relevant international treaties, and to prevent the use of 
youth in the illicit production and trafficking of such sUbstances. 
SECTION 39. Protection Against Sexual Exploitation. The State shall protect 
the youth from any form of sexual exploitation and abuse, including prostitution and 
involvement in pornography or anything prejudicial to any aspects of the youth's 
welfare. 
SECTION 40. Armed Conflict. - The State shall take all feasible measures to 
ensure that youth have no direct part in hostilities. No youth below 21 shall be recruited 
into the armed forces. The State shall likewise ensure the protection of youth who are 
affected by armed conflict. Toward this end, the State has an obligation to ensure that 
youth victims of armed conflicts, torture, neglect, maltreatment or exploitation receive 
appropriate treatment for their recovery and social integration. 
SECTION 41. Administration of Juvenile Justice. A youth in conflict with the 
law has the right to treatment which promotes the, youth's sense of dignity and worth, 
takes the youths age into account and aims at his or her reintegration into society. The 
youth is entitled to basic guarantees as well as legal or other assistance for his or her 
defense. Whenever possible, judicial proceedings and institutional placements shall be 
avoided especially for offenders below 18 years old. 
time. 
SECTION 42. Firearms Ban. Youth shall not be allowed to carry firearms at all 
ARTICLE VIII 
Final Provisions 
SECTION 43. Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the approval 
of this Act, the National Youth Commission (NYC) in collaboration with all existing 
8 


agencies of the national government shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 44. Penal Provision. Any persqn who shall willfully interfere with, 
restrain or coerce any youth in the exercise of his or her rights guaranteed by this Act, 
or who shall in another manner commit any act to defeat any provision of this Act, shall, 
upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos 
(PIO,OOO.OO) nor more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (p50,OOO.OO) or by imprisonment for 
not less than one year nor more than five years, or both such fine and imprisonment at 
the discretion of the Court. 
If offender is an institution, or any juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed 
upon the President, Treasurer, Secretary or any person or officer responsible for the 
violation. If the offender is an alien, he or she shall, after service of sentence, be 
deported immediately without further proceeding .in the Bureau of Immigration and 
Deportation (BID). If the offender is a public officer or employee, the Court shall, in 
addition to the penalties herein above provided, order his dismissal from the 
government service. In addition to the penalties herein provided, the license to operate 
of any institution involved may be suspended or cancelled by concerned government 
agency. 
SECTION 45. Separability Clause. If any provIsion of this Act is declared 
invalid, the remainder thereof not affected thereby 'shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
SECTION 46. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regUlations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 47. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in the Official Gazette or. in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation in the Philippines, whichever comes earli.er. 
Approved, 
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