25/06/2018
House OKs NYD
24-June-2018, 10:25:22 AM
The House of Representatives has approved on second reading House Bill 7749, setting August 12 of every year as National Youth Day.
The bill, authored by Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, cited the duty of the State not only to inculcate patriotism and nationalism among the country’s youth but also to encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.
Republic Act No. 8044, or the “Youth in Nation-Building Act”, declared it a responsibility of the State to help the youth fulfil their role in nation building through the establishment of a National Comprehensive and Coordinated Program on Youth Development.
Likewise, “Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015”, or RA 10742 has established a mechanism to ensure the participation of the youth in local governance, especially by designating the week where August 12 falls as the “Linggo ng Kabataan” (Youth Week).
August 12 is also the same date for the celebration of the “International Youth Day”, which was established on December 17, 1999 when the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a recommendation for such purpose made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth.
To ensure the meaningful observance of National Youth Day, the bill mandates the National Youth Commission (NYC), in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), to prepare and implement an annual program of activities.
Youth organizations and youth-serving organizations are encouraged to support the NYC in all its efforts to promote and facilitate related activities in all public and private schools.
In addition, all schools, colleges and universities are enjoined to launch activities in celebration of National Youth Day such as leadership training, youth empowerment workshops, basic mass integration, and solidarity summit, among others.
The respective administrations of schools, colleges and universities are required to extend their full support for all activities to be conducted by their students in connection with the celebration of the “National Youth Day.”
The NYC, in coordination with the DepEd, the CHED, and the TESDA, was designated to promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the Act, which must be issued within must be issued within 60 days after the law takes effect.
Co-authors of the bill are Reps. Conrado Estrellla III, Rogelio Pacquiao, Allen Jesse Mangaoang, Michael Romero, Chiqui Roa-Puno, Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, among others./R. B. Bundang
