PASADO na sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ng Kamara de Representantes nitong Miyerkules ang panukalang Magna Carta of the Out-of-School Youth (OSY) na naglalayong kilalanin at itaguyod ang karapatan ng mga OSY upang makatulong ang mga ito sa pagpapa-unlad ng bansa.

Sa overwhelming na botong 246, inaprubahan ng Kamara ang House Bill (HB) No. 9347 sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa.

“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,” ani Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

“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,” sabi pa ni Speaker Romualdez, lider ng Kamara na mayroong mahigit 300 miyembro.

Ilan sa mga may-akda ng panukala ay sina Reps. Christian Tell Yap, Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, Juan Carlos Atayde, Keith Micah Tan, Rufus Rodriguez, PM Vargas, Edwin Olivarez, Lordan Suan, Christian Unabia, LRay Villafuerte, at Manuel Jose Dalipe.

Sa ilalim ng panukala isusulong ng estado sa pamamagitan ng National Youth Commission (NYC), Commission on Human Rights, at iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno ang paglikha ng mga programa upang maprotektahan ang mga OSY laban sa anumang uri ng diskriminasyon, at maisulong ang kanilang karapatan para sa kanilang pag-unlad.

Ang panukala ay nagbibigay din ng suporta sa mga OSY sa larangan ng edukasyon, kalusugan, social services, at pagtatrabaho.

“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,” sabi ni Speaker Romualdez.

“This will be made possible by providing the services such as (a) Temporary and protective custody; (b) Medical, dental, and physical therapy services; (c) Mental health care; (d) Psychological evaluation; (e) Counseling; (t) Psychiatric evaluation; (g) Legal services; (h) Productivity capability building; (i) Livelihood assistance; (i) Financial assistance; (k) Life skills training; and () Health education and information,” dagdag pa ng lider ng Kamara.

Kasama rin sa panukala ang paglikha ng Advisory Council na nakasaad sa Section 14 ng Republic Act No. 8044 o ang “Youth in Nation-Building Act.”

Sa ilalim ng panukala ay lilikhain din ang National Comprehensive Multi-Stakeholder Plan of Action for the OSYs upang maitaguyod ang pag-aaral, mental, reproductive health, skills training, at livelihood assistance sa mga OSY.

Nakasaad din sa panukala ang mga magiging trabaho at responsibilidad ng NYC, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Local Social Welfare and Development Officer, Sangguniang Kabataan, Local Youth Development Council, Local Government Units (LGU), Department of Agriculture, at Non-Government Organizations.