DOJ backs Magna Carta for out-of-school youths

MANILA, Philippines -  The Department of Justice (DOJ) has supported a proposed law in the House of Representatives providing Magna Carta for out-of-school youths (OSY).

In a three-page legal opinion issued on Dec.16, the DOJ said it has no legal objection to House Bill 5896, which seeks to define the rights of over 3.8 million OSYs in the country and require free technical and vocational education for them.

The DOJ said the proposed measure “is in consonance with the declared policy of the State in recognizing the ‘vital role of the youth in nation-building’ to ‘promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being.”

“With the increasing rate in the number of out-of-school youths and drop-outs, HB 5896 seeks to provide a comprehensive law to address and prevent its causes, reiterate their right under existing laws and international conventions and provide measures for their protection. It mandates the government and the private sector to initiate and… develop programs to enhance their productivity and efficiency for a better quality of life,” read the opinion signed by Undersecretary Zabedin Azis.

The DOJ, however, suggested to the House committee on youth and sports development to give local government units the primary duty for delivery of services and interventions in coordination with support agencies.

It also asked the Congress to reconsider Section 33 of the bill that seeks to impose penalties to government agencies in cases of violations.

“While we recognize this provision gives teeth for the effective implementation of the Act, we note that most of the mandatory provisions refer to the duties of the government, which cannot be held criminally liable,” the DOJ stressed.

It added that the penal provision may be kept only for violations pertaining to discrimination and derogatory portrayal of OSYs under Section 33 and scholarship bond under Section 30.

In filing the bill, Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said he wanted an affirmative action by the government to ensure the welfare and quality of life of OSYs in the country.