AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN, INSTITUTIONALIZING ADDITIONAL REFORMS TO REVITALIZE YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND BY PROVIDING HONORARIUM, OTHER BENEFITS, AND PRIVILEGES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10742, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN REFORM ACT OF 2015"

The presidents of the Panlalawigang Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan and the presidents of the Panlungsod na Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan of highly urbanized cities and independent component cities shall elect, among themselves, a representative who shall sit as an ex officio member of the National Youth Commission, consistent with Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8044, otherwise known as the "Youth in Nation-Building Act." SEC. 10. Section 25 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 26. Creation. - There shall be in every province, city, and municipality a Youth Development Office which shall be headed by a youth development officer with the rank of at least division chief. Such may be put under the Office of the Local Chief Executive, the Office of the Planning and Development, the Office of the Social Welfare, or in any other office deemed appropriate by the local government unit. If the funds of the local government units are sufficient, it can be a separate department with division and units for policy and planning, administration and finance, and programs and operations. In the event when the local govenrment unit has exceeded the prescribed personal services limitations, the local chief executive may designate exiting personnel deemed fit to serve this purpose: Provided, That a local youth development officer shall be appointed within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act." SEC. 11. Section 26 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 27. Funding. - The local govenrment unit may appropriate nit less than one percent (1%) of its annual budget for the Local Development Office, which shall be used for the implementation of the LYDP, convening the meetings of the concerned Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan and LYDC, as well as its operations and effective functioning." SEC. 12. Section 28 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 29. Components of the Mandatory Training Programs. - The Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the assistance of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), the Local Government Academy (LGA), the University of the Philippines-National Colleges of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), and in consultation with youth stakeholders shall jointly design and implement the mandatory and continuing training programs. The mandatory training programs must include the following components: (a) (1) The Philippine cultural history, political systems, ethics and ideologies; (2) The Filipino as a nation builder; (3) The Filipino youth and its role in nation-building; and (b) capacity building on leadership, program and project development and sustainability, financial management, and accountability and transparency. The Commission and the DILG may also coordinate with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and TESDA, for the offering of relevant courses that emphasize the role of education and skills development in nation-building and would further enhance the knowledge, network, and capacity of Sangguniang Kabataan officials and LYDC members to craft and implement relevant youth development plans." SEC. 13. Funding and Appropriations. - The amounts necessary to carry out the implementation of this Act shall be charged against the Sangguniang Kabataan funds or as may be authorized by the local government units pursuant to Section 4 of this Act. SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DILG, the DBM, the Commission on Elections, the National Youth Commission, and other concerned government agencies shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days upon the effectivity of this Act. SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. SEC. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. Approved, (SGD.) LORD ALLAN JAY Q. VELASCO Speaker of the House of Representatives (SGD.) VICENTE C. SOTTO III President of the Senate This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2124 and House Bill No. 10698 was passed by the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives on February 2, 2022. (SGD.) MARK LLANDRO L. MENDOZA Secretary General House of Representatives (SGD.) MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA Secretary of the Senate Approved: MAY 06 2022 (SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE President of the Philippines