FILIPINO CHILDREN AND YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN NATION-BUILDING LAW OF 1985.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 2003
• Sections: 10

Preamble

WHEREAS, the children and youth of this country aged below

one year to twenty-four years constitute 62 percent of the entire

population;

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the Philippines provides that

the "State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall

promote their physical, intellectual and social well-being.''

WHEREAS, the child and youth welfare code, Presidential

Decree 603 as amended,' declares that the "Child is one of the most important

assets of the nation" and that every effort is being exerted today to promote

his survival and development and enhance his opportunities for a useful and

happy life;

WHEREAS, the decade of the Filipino child covering the

period of 1977 to 1987 has resulted in the overall improvement of the quality of

life of Filipino children and youth below 25 years through significant changes

in and the reduction of the effect of serious problems affecting the young in

mortality, morbidity, malnutrition, illiteracy, ignorance, ill-effects of

poverty, disability, delinquency including drug and child abuse, and

disadvantage due to the under-development of communities in which they live;

and

WHEREAS, the 1985 is the United Nations International Year

of Youth (IYY) and that the Philippines has appropriately observed this year

with actions and services that implement the theme of IYY of "Participation,

Development Peace".

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby

decree as follows:

Section 1

SECTION 1. This Decree shall be known as the Filipino

Children and Youth Participation in Nation-building Law of 1985.

Section 2

SEC. 2. December 7 to 11 of every year shall be called

"National Youth Participation in Nation-building" period and shall be observed

with the annual election of a youth mayor and local city or municipal officials

in every city and municipality and with the annual election of a youth governor

and provincial officials in every province, together with the launching of

projects which maximize participation of youth in governmental affairs and focus

on the survival and total development of children and youth. Youth elected to

the positions provided in this section shall be between the ages of 15

to 20.

Section 3

SEC. 3. There is hereby created a youth Batasang Pambansa

which shall be composed of not more than 200 youth representatives. Each youth

Batasang Pambansa representative shall be appointed by the incumbent member of

the Batasang Pambansa and shall be a youth between the ages 20-24.

The first youth Batasang Pambansa shall convene on December 7, 1987 and shall

hold sessions until December 11, 1987 to consider recommendations on the

survival, welfare, and total development of children and youth from below one

year to twenty-four years. Thereafter, the Youth Batasang Pambansa shall convene

every year on December 7 to December 11 to consider recommendations for

legislation and/or executive policy or program. The Youth Batasang Pambansa

shall elect its youth speaker and such other officials which it shall consider

necessary.

Section 4

SEC. 4. Every child-caring and/or youth-serving organization

shall elect or otherwise appoint a youth president or chairman of the board who

shall be a member of the governing board of such child-caring and/or

youth-serving organization with the right to vote and to fully participate in

the decision-making of the governing board. The youth president or chairman of

the board shall be between the ages of 15 to 24 and shall be elected annually

during the period for "National Youth Participation in Nation-building."

Section 5

SEC. 5. The youth mayors and local officials, the youth

governor and provincial officials, the youth batasang pambansa, and the youth

presidents or chairmen of the board of child-caring and/or youth-serving

organizations shall convene as a deliberate and recommendatory body during the

observance of the fourth president's national conference on the development of

children and youth in 1990 and every five years thereafter to present

recommendations to the President of the Philippines on the survival, welfare,

and total development of children and youth between the ages of below one year

to twenty-four years.

Section 6

SEC. 6. The Council for the welfare of children created

under the Child and Youth Welfare Code, Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended,

is hereby designated as the implementing body for this decree. For the purpose

of fully implementing the provisions of P.D. 603 as amended, Article 205 thereof

is hereby amended to include as ex officio members of the council for the

welfare of children the following officials: the Minister of Human Settlements,

the Minister of Local Government, the Speaker of the Batasang Pambansa, and the

Executive Director of the Council. The youth speaker of the Youth Batasang

Pambansa shall be invited to council meeting when the Youth Batasang Pambansa is

in session. The Executive Director shall head the Secretariat for the projects

under this Decree and shall have the rank, privilege, and emoluments of a career

executive service officer 1.

Section 7

SEC. 7. All laws or parts of any laws inconsistent with the

provisions of this decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 8

SEC. 8. If any provision of this decree is held invalid, the

other provisions not affected thereby shall continue in operation.

Section 9

SEC. 9. This decree shall take effect upon approval.

APPROVED this 16th day of December 1985, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen

hundred and eighty-five, in Malacañang.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President of the

Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) JUAN C. TUVERA

Presidential Executive

Assistant