Youth in Nation-Building Act (RA 8044) — BatasKo ELI5

Section 7.

Qualifications of the Chairman and the Commissioners.

- The chairman shall not be more than forty-five (45) years of age, and the appointive commissioners no more than forty (40) years of age, at any time during their incumbency; natural-born citizens of the Philippines; have occupied positions of responsibility and leadership in duly registered youth and youth-serving organizations or institutions; of good moral character; and not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.

The chairman shall serve as the chief executive officer of the Commission.

Section 8.

Objectives of the Commission.

- The objectives of the Commission are:

a. To provide the leadership in the formulation of policies and in the setting of priorities and direction of all youth promotion and development programs and activities;

b. To encourage wide and active participation of the youth in all governmental and nongovernmental programs, projects and activities affecting them;

c. To harness and develop the full potential of the youth as partners in nation-building; and

d. To supplement government appropriations for youth promotion and development with funds from other sources.

Section 9.

Powers of the Commission.

- The Commission shall have the following powers:

a. To appoint the officers and other personnel of the Commission and fix their compensation, allowances and other emoluments, subject to the civil service and other existing applicable laws, rules and regulations;

b. To suspend, dismiss, or otherwise discipline for cause, any employee, and/or to approve or disapprove the appointment, transfer or detail of employees, subject to the provisions of existing laws and regulations;

c. To enter into contracts;

d. To acquire, use and control any land, building, facilities, equipment, instrument, tools and rights required or otherwise necessary for the accomplishment of the objectives of the Commission;

e. To acquire, own, possess and dispose of any real or personal property;

f. To accept donations, gifts, bequests, and grants;

g. To ensure the implementation by various government departments and agencies of their youth developmental projects and activities as indicated in their respective annual budgets;

h. To issue rules and regulations in pursuance of the provisions of this Act; and

i. To perform any and all other acts incident to or required by virtue of its creation.

Section 10.

Functions of the Commission.

- The Commission shall have the following functions:

a. To formulate and initiate the national policy or policies on youth;

b. To plan, implement, and oversee a national integrated youth promotion and development program;

c. To establish a consultative mechanism which shall provide a forum for continuing dialogue between the government and the youth sector on the proper planning and evaluation of policies, programs and projects affecting the youth, convening for the purpose, representatives of all youth organizations and institutions, including the sangguniang kabataan from barangay, municipal, city, provincial and national levels;

d. To assist and coordinate with governmental and nongovernmental organizations or institutions in the implementation of all laws, policies, programs and projects relative to youth promotion and development;

e. To seek or request the assistance and support of any government agency, office or instrumentality including government-owned or -controlled corporations, local government units as well as nongovernmental organizations or institutions in pursuance of its policies, programs and projects;

f. To conduct scientific, interdisciplinary and policy-oriented researches and studies on youth-related matters, as well as trainings, seminars and workshops that will enhance the skills and leadership potentials of the youth, instilling in them nationalism and patriotism, with particular emphasis on Filipino culture and values;

g. To establish and maintain linkages with international youth and youth-serving organizations or institutions an counterpart agencies of foreign governments in order to facilitate and ensure the participation of Filipino youth in international functions and affairs;

h. To administer youth exchange programs as well as monitor and coordinate all foreign-sponsored youth programs and projects such as the Ship for Southeast Asia Youth Program and other similar exchanges and goodwill missions;

i. To establish such organizational structures including regional offices, as may be required to effectively carry out its functions;

j. To conduct promotion and fund-raising campaigns in accordance with existing laws;

k. To allocate resources for the implementation of youth programs and projects;

l. To extend and provide support or assistance to deserving youth and youth organizations including scholarship grants;

m. To register, establish and/or facilitate and help in the establishment of youth organizations and youth-serving organizations;

n. To participate in international youth fora, symposia and organizations such as the International Youth Forum, Asian Youth Council, Asean Youth Forum, United Nations Commission for International Youth Year (IYY) and other similar bodies;

o. To provide training and a national secretariat for the Sangguniang Kabataan National Federation pursuant to R. A. No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code;

p. To submit an annual report on the implementation of this Act to the President and to Congress; and

q. To perform such other functions as may be necessary to effectively and efficiently carry out the provisions of this Act.

Section 11.

The Secretariat and the Executive Director.

- The Commission shall organize a secretariat to be headed by an executive director who shall serve as the chief operating officer.

The executive director shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the National Commission for a term of three (3) years with reappointment for another term, and must have the qualifications, rank and privileges of a bureau director. He must not be more than forty-five (45) years of age during his incumbency, and must possess executive and management experience of at least three (3) years and with considerable exposure to youth affairs, projects and programs management. He shall be responsible for the effective implementation of the policies promulgated by the Commission and shall also direct and supervise the day-to-day operations of the Commission.

The first executive director shall have a term of four (4) years.

The staffing pattern and compensation schedule of the secretariat shall be drawn up in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations.

Section 12.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Secretariat.

- The Secretariat shall be responsible for:

a. Ensuring an effective and efficient performance of the functions of the Commission and prompt implementation of the programs;

b. Proposing specific allocation of resources for project in stated under the approved programs;

c. Submitting periodic reports to the Commission on the progress and accomplishment of programs and projects;

d. Preparing an annual report on all activities of the Commission;

e. Providing and performing general administrative and technical staff support; and

f. Performing such other functions as the Commission may deem necessary.

Section 13.

Parliament of Youth Leaders.

- There is hereby constituted the "Youth Parliament." The Youth Parliament shall be initially convened not later than six (6) months from the full constitution of the Commission, and shall meet at the call of the National Commission, and thereafter be convened every two (2) years. The Youth Parliament shall have a regular session from two (2) to three (3) days every time it is convened, but may form task forces which may meet during the period between the convening thereof.

Delegates to the Youth Parliament shall be chosen by the Commission taking into consideration equal and geographical representation among men and women. All delegates shall be of good moral character, able to read and write, has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude, and shall not be more than thirty (30) years of age on the day of election to the position by virtue of which he qualifies as a delegate and on the day the Parliament is convened. The delegates shall elect the President of the Youth Parliament who shall preside during the session of the Youth Parliament.

The Youth Parliament at the end of each regular session shall present its proceedings, declarations and resolutions to the Commission.

Section 14.

Advisory Council.

- There shall be an Advisory Council which shall be composed of the Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), as chairman, and the Secretaries of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the chairmen of both Senate and House committees dealing with youth and sports development, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), as members.

The Council shall meet once every three (3) months, or as often as may be necessary, upon call of its chairman, advise and be consulted by the Commission on important matters relating to youth affairs, welfare and development.

The Council may form task forces which shall convene between the meetings of the Council. The Commission shall provide the technical support and the secretariat required by the Council to function according to this Act.

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Section 15.

Appropriations.

- There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the amount of Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000) as additional funding for the Commission, to be charged against the unexpended contingency funds of the Office of the President.

Thereafter, the amount needed for the operation and maintenance of the Commission shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act:

Provided,

That operating expenses of the Commission itself shall not exceed fourteen percent (14%) of the annual appropriation and that at least eighty-six percent (86%) of said annual appropriation shall be disbursed for the national youth development program, projects and activities.

Section 16.

Transfer of Assets, Properties and Funds.

- Assets, properties, and funds of the Pambansang Katipunan ng Kabataang Barangay and that of the Presidential Council for Youth Affairs under the Office of the President pursuant to Executive Order No. 274, series of 1987 and of all other youth-serving agencies under said Office shall be transferred to the Commission.

Section 17.

Effect of Separation from the Service as a Result of this Act.

- Any official or employee of the Presidential Council for Youth Affairs created under Executive Order No. 274 or any other personnel of the national or local government separated from the service as a result of the operation and effect of this Act may be absorbed, if qualified, by the Commission for the good of the service, or where qualified therefor, may opt to transfer to another office or elect to apply for separation pay or retirement benefits:

Provided,

That the official or employee who may be absorbed by the Commission shall not suffer any loss or diminution of pay, seniority or rank:

Provided, further,

That benefits for separation or retirement of an official or employee of the Presidential Council for Youth Affairs shall be derived from the funds of said Council transferred to the Commission.

Section 18.

Tax Deduction or Exemption of Donations and Contributions.

- Any donation, contribution, bequest and grant which may be made to the Commission shall constitute as allowable deduction from the income of the donor for income tax purposes and shall be exempt from donor's tax, subject to such conditions as provided under the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

Section 19.

Presidential Land Grant.

- The provisions of an existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, the President may, upon the authority of Congress, grant by donation, sale, lease, or otherwise to the Commission, portion of the land of the public domain as may be necessary for the establishment of youth development and training centers in all regions of the country and for the accomplishment of any of its purposes.

Section 20.

Stamps and Gold Coins for the Youth.

- The Philippine Postal Corporation and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas are hereby authorized to print paper stamps and mint gold coins which shall depict youth events and such other motif as they may decide, at the expense of the Commission.

Section 21.

Separability Clause.

- If for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this Act shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 22.

Repealing Clause.

- Presidential Decree Nos. 604 and 1191, Executive Order No. 274, series of 1987, and all other laws, decrees, rules and regulations, other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 23.

Effectivity Clause.

- This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least one (1) national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.)

EDGARDO J. ANGARA

President of the Senate

(Sgd.)

JOSE DE VENECIA, JR.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which is a consolidation of H. B. No. 11614 and S. B. No. 1977 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on June 2, 1995.

(Sgd.)

EDGARDO E. TUMANGAN

Secretary of the Senate

(Sgd.)

CAMILO L. SABIO

Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: June 7, 1995

(Sgd.)

FIDEL V. RAMOS

President of the Philippines

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