House okays proposed Magna Carta for out-of-school youth

The House of Representatives approved on third reading the proposed Magna Carta of the Out-of-School Youth (OSY).

House Bill 9347 got the votes of 246 lawmakers.

«This bill aims 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,» House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said.

«Through this bill, we also aim to recognize the important role of the private sector in improving the welfare of the OSYs and to seek their partnership actively,» Romualdez said.

The bill mandates the National Youth Commission, Commission on Human Rights, and other concerned youth-serving agencies, to institute programs that will protect OSYs.

The bill spells out rights and empowerments for OSYs like their human rights; equal treatment before the law; representation in media, film and other platforms; rights of Moro and indigenous OSYs to practice, promote, protect, and preserve their culture, traditions, and institutions; and decent work standards for OSYs who have graduated from Technical-Vocational Education and Training courses.

It also provides education, health, social services, and employment aid to OSYs.

«The bill seeks to provide sufficient assistance to OSYs who are in challenging circumstances, such as those with disabilities, victims of sexual and physical abuse, illegal recruitment, prostitution, trafficking, armed conflict, OSY in conflict with the law, and in times of crisis, pandemic, and other public health emergencies,» Romualdez said.