Bill empowering out-of-school youth filed in the Senate

A bill seeking to institute policies and programs for the development of out-of-school youth and encourage them to seek and avail opportunities including educational, employment, and entrepreneurial assistance has been filed in the Senate.

Senator Sonny Angara, in filing Senate Bill 1090 or Magna Carta of the Out-of-School Youth, said empowered out-of-school youth could help promote their communities’ growth and development.

He said the proposed measure will also institute interventions for the benefit of out-of-school youths who are in especially difficult circumstances such as victims of sexual and physical abuse, illegal recruitment, prostitution, trafficking, armed conflict, and those in conflict with the law and other related circumstances which have caused their functional incapacity in the society.

“All of these reforms are aimed at encouraging our out-of-school youths to realize their value in society and exercise self-improvement mechanisms. As our country moves toward the next industrial revolution, it is imperative that we leave no one— especially those with the most potential—behind,” he said in the explanatory note.

Under the bill, the out-of-school youth shall be provided with mandatory technical/vocational education for free.

“The State shall likewise provide materials, instruments, and tools that the out-of-school youth may need while enrolled in a technical/vocational course, as well as sufficient allowance to cover transportation and other related costs for the duration of the training,” it said.

It added the local government units, through the Community Training and Employment Coordinators (CTECs) or duly designated personnel, shall have the responsibility of monitoring the progress and development of the out-of-school youth in the chosen technical/vocational course by requiring the institution to submit, among others, regular enrollment and completion reports of the programs being implemented.

The local Social Welfare and Development Officer may also recommend an out-of-school youth to be a recipient of a scholarship program from the Commission on Higher Education. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News