Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 814 
Introduced by Representative LORDAN G. SUAN 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF THE OUT-OF-SCHOOL 
YOUTH 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building. 
However, when the youth are out of school and lack the necessary skills for 
employment, this potential is wasted—along with the brighter future we 
aspire to as a nation. 
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), four out of five 
children and youth aged 5 to 24 years were attending school in School Year 
2022 to 2023. While this represents progress, a significant number remain 
out of school. Data show that a higher proportion of males were not 
attending school due to employment (25.9%) and lack of personal interest 
(17.9%), while more females were not attending school because they had 
completed the level of education they aimed for (28.9%) or due to marriage 
(17.0%). These figures reflect the need for targeted, gender-sensitive 
interventions to address the various barriers that prevent young people from 
continuing their education. 
Being out of school brings with it numerous challenges. It exposes 
individuals to discrimination, exploitation, early marriage, unemployment, 
and a lifetime of poverty and marginalization. It also contributes to larger 
societal issues such as juvenile delinquency and increased government 
spending on social services. 
July 1, 2025
1:35 pm


This bill seeks to address the plight of the out-of-school youth by 
recognizing their inherent right to live with dignity and become productive 
members of society. In line with the State's policy of promoting the physical, 
moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of the youth, this bill 
mandates all government agencies and instrumentalities to uphold and 
protect the rights of OSCY. It also sets out concrete interventions in the areas 
of education, health, employment, and social services, aiming to empower 
out-of-school youth and safeguard them from exploitation, violence, 
trafficking, and discrimination. 
In view of the foregoing and the urgency of this matter, the immediate 
passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
LORDAN G. SUAN 
Cagayan de Oro City – 1st District 


3 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 814 
Introduced by Representative LORDAN G. SUAN 
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. – Article II, Section 11 of the 
Constitution provides that the State values the dignity of every human 
person and guarantees full respect for human rights. Pursuant to the 
aforementioned mandate, the State recognizes the rights of the out-of-
school youth (OSY) to social protection and to the development of their 
full potential as partners in nation-building. 
SEC. 3. Objectives. – The objectives of this Act are as follows: 
(a)
To recognize, protect, and promote the rights of the OSYs;
(b)
To empower and encourage the OSYs to contribute to
nation-building;
(c)
To give full support to the improvement of the total
well-being of the OSYs by providing learning and employment 


 
 
 
opportunities as well as the needed social services and 
interventions; and 
(d) 
To recognize the important role of the private sector in 
improving the welfare of the OSY and to actively seek their 
partnership. 
 
CHAPTER II 
DEFINITION OF TERMS 
 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
 
(a) Alternative Learning System (ALS) refers to a parallel learning 
system in the Philippines that provides a practical option to the 
existing 
formal instruction and equivalent pathways to basic 
education. It includes both the non-formal and informal sources of 
knowledge and skills; 
 
(b) Local Social Welfare and Development Officer (LSWDO) refers 
to the officer designated as such under the Social Welfare and 
Development Offices in the local government unit (LGU); 
 
(c) Out-of-school youth refers to a member of the population aged 
15 to 30 years old who is currently out of school, not gainfully 
employed, and has not finished secondary or college education; 
 
(d) 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 OSY by promoting livelihood and employment 
opportunities, including its major components such as labor market 
interventions, social insurance, social welfare, and social safety nets; 
 
(e) Substantive equality refers to the fundamental aspect of 
human rights law that is concerned with equitable outcomes and 
equal opportunities for the disadvantaged and marginalized groups 
in 
society, 
including 
protection 
against 
discrimination, 
marginalization, unequal distribution of opportunities, and limited 
access to goods and services; 
 
(f) Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) refers 
to the education or training process designed at post-secondary and 
lower tertiary levels, officially recognized as non-degree programs 


 
 
 
aimed at preparing technicians, paraprofessionals and other categories 
of middle- level  workers by providing  them with  a  broad  range  
of general education, theoretical, scientific and technological studies, 
and related job skills training; and 
 
(g) TVET graduate refers to a student or trainee who has 
completed the requirements set for a Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority (TESDA)-registered TVET course or program. 
 
CHAPTER III 
DUTIES RELATED TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL 
YOUTH 
 
SEC. 5. State as the Primary Duty-Bearer. – The State shall, through 
the National Youth Commission (NYC), Commission on Human 
Rights, and other concerned youth-serving agencies, be guided by 
progressive developments on the aspect of human rights of the OSY 
under international law and shall endeavor to formulate 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 the OSYs against 
discrimination of any kind by private corporations, entities, individuals, 
and from any institution, public or private; and 
 
(b) 
The promotion of substantive equality on the rights of 
the OSY in all aspects of growth and development. 
 
SEC. 6. Duties of the State Agencies and Instrumentalities. – The 
duties of the State as stated in Section 5 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, 
and administrative guidelines that define specific duties of concerned 
state agencies and entities. 
 
 
CHAPTER IV 
RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT 
 


 
 
 
SEC. 7. Human Rights of Out-of-School Youth. – An OSY shall 
enjoy, 
without discrimination, all rights provided for in the Constitution 
and those rights recognized under international instruments duly 
ratified by the Philippines. 
 
SEC. 8. Protection from Violence. – The State shall ensure that all 
OSYs shall be protected from all forms of violence, physical abuse, 
sexual exploitation, and human trafficking as provided for under 
existing laws. The Department of Justice, Department of Social 
Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other concerned agencies 
shall give priority to the defense and protection of the OSYs and help 
them in attaining justice and social equality. 
 
SEC. 9. Equal Treatment Before the Law. – The NYC and other 
youth-serving agencies shall take active steps to review and, when 
necessary, submit proposals to amend or repeal existing laws that 
are discriminatory to the OSYs, and submit legislative proposals, as 
far as practicable, at the start of every Congress. 
 
SEC. 10. Representation of Out-of-School Youth Issues and 
Concerns in 
Media, Film, and Other Platforms. – The NYC and other concerned 
agencies shall formulate policies and programs for the advancement 
of the OSYs in collaboration with 
government and non-government 
organization (NGO) media-related organizations. 
 
For this purpose, the State shall ensure the allocation of resources 
for the 
production, publication, dissemination, and airing of all forms of 
information materials on the rights of the OSYs and the various 
services and benefits provided to them under this Act. 
 
SEC. 11. Recognition and Preservation of Cultural Identity and 
Integrity. –  The rights of Moro and indigenous OSYs 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, protect their rights, indigenous knowledge 


 
 
 
system and practices, traditional livelihood, and other cultural 
manifestations, recommend legislation and other appropriate 
measures to promote and to respect them: Provided, That these 
cultural systems and practices do not discriminate against other OSYs 
who do not belong to the Muslim or Indigenous Peoples. 
 
SEC.  12.  Right  to  Decent  Work. – The Department of Labor and 
Employment (DOLE) shall, in coordination with TESDA, ensure 
decent work standards for OSYs who have graduated from TVET 
courses, including the following minimum guarantees: 
 
(a) Local 
job 
generation 
and 
employment, 
economic 
opportunities, and providing strict regulations against forced and 
involuntary displacement; 
 
(b) Protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of 
migrant TVET graduates regardless of work status and protection 
against discrimination in wages, conditions of work, and 
employment opportunities in host countries; and 
 
(c) Opportunities 
for 
work 
shall 
be 
productive 
and 
fairly 
remunerative as family living wage, security of tenure in the 
workplace, and better prospects for personal development and 
social integration. 
 
 
CHAPTER V 
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT 
 
 
 SEC. 13. Government Assistance. – The national government 
shall, through its agencies and instrumentalities, provide the 
following: 
 
(a) Education - The Department of Education (DepEd), TESDA, 
and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall, in 
consultation with NGOs, institute a program that will ensure 
access of the OSYs to formal, informal, and non-formal learning 
opportunities; 
 
(b) Health - The Department of Health (DOH) shall, in coordination 
with LGUs and NGOs, institute a national health program and 


 
 
 
provide an integrated health service for OSYs: Provided, That the 
DOH shall provide the OSYs and their families with sexual and 
reproductive health education and information, as well as family 
counseling to curb the number of dropout cases due to early 
marriage and pregnancy, marital conflict, and other family 
problems; 
 
(c) Social Services - The DSWD shall, in cooperation with the LGUs, 
NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders, develop and implement 
programs on social services for the OSYs, the components of which 
are: 
 
1. 
Social Enhancement Services that provide the OSYs with 
opportunities for socializing, organizing creative expression, and 
self-improvement; 
2. 
After Care Services that provide support for the OSYs 
who are discharged from the homes or institutions of the 
DSWD, and other private institutions duly accredited by the 
DSWD, especially those who have problems of reintegration 
with family and the community; and 
3. 
Social Case Management that includes a comprehensive, 
updated list and detailed profile of all known OSYs in the 
respective localities for the purpose of providing age-
appropriate social service interventions. 
 
(d) Employment - The DOLE shall, in coordination with other 
government agencies such as the Department of Trade and 
Industry (DTI) and TESDA, assess, design, and implement 
training programs that will provide jobs, entrepreneurial skills 
and facilitation, agricultural training, and livelihood opportunities 
for the OSYs. 
 
 
SEC. 14. Social Protection. – The National Anti-Poverty 
Commission and 
concerned agencies shall institute for the OSYs policies and 
programs that seek to reduce poverty and vulnerability to risks by 
mandating their employers to provide mandatory life, accident, and 
health insurance coverage. 
 
 


 
 
 
CHAPTER VI 
          EDUCATION 
  
SEC. 15. Technical Vocational Education. – It shall be the duty of 
the State to provide technical or vocational education to the OSYs. 
The course shall be provided and managed by TESDA subject to its 
rules and regulations: Provided, That an officer of the TESDA shall be 
assigned as a TESDA adviser who shall monitor the progress and 
development of the OSYs in the chosen technical vocational course. 
 
    SEC. 16. Alternative Learning System. – An ALS of education 
shall be made available to OSYs. 
For OSYs who are under the care and custody of a home or an 
institution managed or accredited by the DSWD, the latter shall 
coordinate with the DepEd for the provision of an ALS within its 
premises. 
 
   SEC. 17. Promotion to Formal Tertiary Education. – The 
LSWDO may recommend an OSY to be a recipient of a scholarship 
grant from the CHED under either Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise 
known as the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act” or 
Republic Act No. 10687, otherwise known as the “Unified Student 
Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Act.” An 
OSY who is a recipient of any CHED scholarship grant shall execute 
a scholarship bond, subject to the condition of rendering at least 
two (2) years of service to the government upon completion thereof. 
 
   SEC. 18. Entrepreneurial Education. – The DTI shall, in 
coordination with TESDA and other relevant government agencies, 
conduct training programs to provide  the  OSYs  with  the  
knowledge,  skills,  and  motivation  to  engage  in entrepreneurial 
endeavors in a variety of settings. These programs shall include 
small business management, new approaches to innovation, 
developing creativity or the introduction of new products or 
services 
to 
the 
markets 
and 
providing 
aid 
to nascent 
entrepreneurial undertaking to grow and sustain the business of the 
OSYs. 
 
Both public and private higher education institutions shall set a 
minimum number of admissions of returning OSYs, scholarship 
grants, and other financial support to OSYs. 
 


 
 
 
    SEC. 19. Education Cost and Support. – The DepEd, CHED, and 
TESDA shall provide formal, non-formal, informal, technical and 
vocational education services to the OSYs free of charge. It shall 
likewise provide materials, instruments, and tools needed to carry out 
and complete said programs. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES 
 
    SEC. 20. Especially Difficult Circumstances. – OSYs who are in 
especially difficult circumstances such as those with disabilities, 
victims of sexual and physical abuse, 
illegal 
recruitment, 
prostitution, trafficking, armed conflict, OSYs in conflict with the 
law, and other difficult circumstances such as pandemic and other 
public health emergencies, 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, dental, and physical therapy services; 
(c) 
Mental health care; 
(d) 
Psychological evaluation; 
(e) 
Counseling; 
(f)  
Psychiatric evaluation; 
(g) 
Legal services; 
(h) 
Productivity capability building; 
(i)  
Livelihood assistance; 
(j)  
Financial assistance; 
(k) 
Life skills training; and 
(l) Health education and information. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT 
 
SEC. 21. Role of the Advisory Council. – The Advisory Council 
created under Section 14 of Republic Act No. 8044, otherwise known as 
the “Youth in Nation-Building Act” shall, in addition to its respective 
mandates, implement the provisions of this Act, which shall include the 
following duties and functions: 
 
(a) Formulate a National Comprehensive Multi-Stakeholder 


 
 
 
Plan of Action for the OSYs which shall include back-to-school 
transitional support, career pathing,  counseling,  mental  and  
reproductive  health  education  and services, skills training and 
livelihood assistance; 
(b) Coordinate, monitor, and ensure that the relevant 
agencies of the government have appropriate yearly work 
programs for the OSYs in accordance with the objectives of this 
Act; 
(c) Cause the dissemination of information and engender 
national    public awareness of the plight of the OSYs in the 
country through social media, government media and 
broadcasting facilities, and other modern channels of 
communication; 
 
(d) 
Review 
and 
ascertain 
existing 
policies 
that are 
 
discriminatory to the  OSYs as 
a 
subsector 
and
 
recommend to 
Congress 
remedial 
legislative measures 
 
and interventions to eradicate all  forms of discrimination to 
 
the OSYs; and 
(e) Furnish the NYC on a yearly basis a national situationer 
on OSYs, including the available programs, services, and 
interventions available for them. 
 
 SEC. 22. Roles and Responsibilities of Concerned Agencies. – 
The following agencies shall perform the following duties and 
responsibilities: 
 
 
(a) The NYC shall: 
 
(1) Establish and maintain an updated database of OSYs at 
the national and local levels; 
(2) Assess the needs of the OSYs and recommend to 
concerned agencies the necessary interventions to address 
them; 
(3) Capacitate the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), Task Force 
on Youth Development, and  Local  Youth  Development  
Council  (LYDC)  to implement the provisions of this Act at 
the local level; and 
(4) Coordinate with concerned government agencies, private 


 
 
 
or NGOs, the necessary programs and projects designed to 
promote 
the 
general 
welfare, 
development, 
and 
empowerment of the OSYs as part of the multi-stakeholder 
plan of action for the OSYs. 
 
(b) The DepEd, CHED, and TESDA shall: 
 
(1) Identify learning opportunities and establish programs 
for the OSYs such as returning to formal schooling, enrolling 
in the ALS, pursuing TVET for those who are not fully 
equipped to return to in-school education; 
 
(2) Provide materials, instruments, and tools needed by the 
OSYs; and 
 
(3) Monitor the progress of the OSYs. 
 
(c) The LSWDO shall: 
 
(1) Conduct social case management and profiling of the 
OSYs in every city and municipality for the provision of age-
appropriate social service interventions; 
(2) Draw up a list of available and necessary services 
which can be provided for the OSYs; 
(3) Institutionalize the implementation of LGU-based psycho-
social services for OSYs such as the Unlad Kabataan and Pag-
asa Youth Association programs; 
(4) Maintain and regularly update on an annual basis the list 
of OSYs and submit the list to the Office of the Secretary of the 
DSWD, the NYC, and the Philippine Statistics Authority; 
(5) Issue nationally uniform individual identification cards 
free of charge, which shall be valid anywhere in the country; 
(6) Serve as a focal person on the dissemination of general 
information and feedback in regard to the needs of the OSYs; 
(7) Report to the Mayor, any individual, establishment, 
business entity, institution, or agency found violating any 
provision of this Act; 
(8) Monitor, supervise, and enforce the implementation 


 
 
 
of information dissemination 
through 
social media, 
government media, and broadcasting facilities of the plight 
of the country’s OSYs; and 
(9) Coordinate with the Advisory Council to ensure 
compliance with the provisions of this Act. 
 
(d) The SK and LYDC shall: 
 
(1) Initiate 
and 
implement, 
in 
coordination 
with 
concerned government agencies, private or NGOs, programs 
and projects designed to promote the general welfare, 
development, and empowerment of the OSYs; 
(2) Promulgate resolutions, in consultation with the
 
Katipunan ng Kabataan, necessary to carry 
out the objectives for the OSYs in the barangay; 
(3) Assist in the mapping out of the OSYs in every barangay; 
(4) Conduct programs and activities for the OSYs which are in 
line with the Comprehensive Barangay Youth Development 
Plan and the applicable provisions of this Act; 
(5) Partner with other youth-serving agencies and 
organizations in planning and executing projects and 
programs of specific advocacies for the OSYs such as 
health and anti-drug abuse, including reproductive health,
 
disaster 
risk reduction 
and resiliency, employment 
and livelihood, gender sensitivity, and sports development; 
and 
(6) The Panlalawigang Pederasyon ng mga SK shall submit 
an annual situationer report on the OSYs of their respective 
provinces to the NYC. 
 
(e) The LGUs shall: 
 
(1) Ensure the database creation and mapping out of 
OSYs at the municipal, city, and barangay levels; 
(2) Mobilize the SK and the LYDCs to assist in the 
delivery of the necessary services and interventions for the
 
OSYs under their respective jurisdictions; 
(3) Provide programs for the OSYs, including back-to-


 
 
 
school transition, enrolment in the ALS or TVET, provision of 
counseling, and mental and reproductive health services in 
the barangay, municipal, and city levels; and 
(4) Set targets on the number of OSYs to be back in school, 
enrolled in ALS or TVET, and availed of the social protection 
programs: 
 
Provided, that the LGUs shall, through the Community 
Training and Employment Coordinators or duly designated 
LGU personnel, monitor the progress and development of the 
OSYs in the chosen technical vocational course by requiring 
the technical vocational institutions to submit, among others, 
regular enrollment and completion reports of the programs 
being implemented. 
 
 (f) The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the 
Philippine  Council for Agriculture and Fisheries shall, in 
coordination with LGUs  and DA, ensure the inclusion of the 
OSYs through their organizations  
to be represented in the 
agriculture and fishery councils from the  national down to the 
regional and local levels to ensure full   engagement 
of 
OSYs in agricultural development. 
 
SEC. 23. Role of Non-Government Organizations. – NGOs or 
private 
volunteer organizations dedicated to promoting, enhancing, and 
supporting the welfare of OSYs are hereby encouraged to become 
government partners in implementing programs and projects for the 
OSYs. 
 
 
CHAPTER IX 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
SEC. 24. Punishable Acts and Penalties. – The following acts 
shall be deemed violations of this Act with the following 
corresponding penalties:  
 
( 1 )  Discrimination against OSYs by private corporations, 
entities, and individuals;  


 
 
 
(2) 
Discrimination 
in 
wages, 
condition 
of 
work, 
and 
employment opportunities; and  
(3) 
Non-compliance 
with 
the 
mandatory 
coverage 
by 
employers of health, accident, and life insurance. 
 
(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 (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 
of 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 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 (P50,000.00) but 
not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00); 
and 
(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  shall,  in  coordination  with  the  
concerned  LGU,  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. 
 
SEC. 25. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current 
year’s appropriation of the departments and agencies concerned.  
 
Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 


 
 
 
The LGU concerned may set aside funds from any local revenue 
an amount deemed appropriate for the implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 26. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The NYC, the 
members of the Advisory Council created under Republic Act No. 
8044, TESDA, and CHED shall, not later than thirty (30) days upon 
the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act: Provided, That  
failure  to  promulgate  the  rules  and  regulations  shall  not  
prevent  the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity. 
 
SEC. 27. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this 
Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not 
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SEC.  28.  Repealing  Clause.  –  All laws, executive orders, 
issuances, decrees, rules, and regulations inconsistent with or 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified 
or repealed accordingly. 
 
  SEC. 29. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation 
 
 
       Approved,