NYC told: Comply with GAA provision

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has called the attention of the National Youth Commission for failure to appropriate funds for senior citizens and differently-abled persons.

COA said the NYC did not have plans, programs, and projects for the elderly and differently-abled persons, which is mandated under the General Appropriations Act.

“Neither did management integrate in their regular activities the welfare of less fortunate and elderly,” state auditors said in its 2012 report.

COA said that NYC did not provide budget for the implementations of programs and projects related to senior citizens and differently-abled persons as prescribed under Section 29 of RA No. 10155, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2012.

The law provides that, “All agencies of the government shall formulate plans, programs and projects intended to address the concerns of senior citizens and differently-abled person, and integrate the same in their regular activities, which shall be at least one percent of their budget.”

The NYC, in its comment on the audit observation, said that its clients are youth, or those with ages 15 to 30 years old, however, a differently-abled youth was hired during the “Persons with Disabilities Month” in July 2012.

In Cebu, the celebration was adopted through a provincial ordinance wherein activities include PWD Got Talent, Basketball Tournament, Jobs Fair, Art Exhibit, Iron Man and PWD Cares Medical Mission.

COA recommended that NYC integrate in their regular activities the plans, programs and projects intended to address the concerns of differently-abled youth.

For the year 2012, the NYC had a total appropriation of P62,452,000. There were additional releases amounting to P11,006,042 and continuing appropriations of P1,675,805 to fund its operations.

The total allotment received for 2012 amounted to P77,561,847 of which, total obligations incurred amounted to P74,116,002, thereby leaving a balance of P3,445,844.

Republic Act No. 8044 not only created the National Youth Commission (NYC) on July 25, 1994 but also established a National Comprehensive and Coordinated Program on Youth Development.

This landmark legislation, otherwise known as the “Youth in Nation Building Act”, was signed on June 7, 1995 by then President Fidel V. Ramos, took effect on June 30, 1995 and duly constituted on August 10, 1995.

The new law automatically repealed Executive Order No. 274 dated July 25, 1987, a Presidential issuance that created the Office of the Presidential Council for Youth Affairs (PCYA).

NYC is an independent and autonomous agency with the status of a national government agency attached to the Office of the President.

It is the sole policy-making/coordinating body of all youth oriented institution programs, projects and activities of the government. On May 7, 2009, Executive Order No. 795 was issued attaching the NYC to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The primary mandate of NYC is to serve as the lead government agency for the formulation of the policies and set up priorities and direction of all youth promotion, development programs and activities; encourage wide and active participation of the youth in all governmental and non-governmental programs, projects and activities; harness and develop the full potential of the youth as partners in nation-building; and supplement government appropriation for youth promotion and development with funds from other sources. — (FREEMAN)