SENATE Committee on Youth chairman Juan Edgardo Angara on Thursday expressed elation over the enactment of three laws that will foster the development of young Filipinos as future leaders and productive members of society.

The National Youth Day or Republic Act 11913 and the National Music Competitions for Young Artists or Republic Act 11915 lapsed into law on July 30, 2022 while the Summer Youth Camp or Republic Act 11910 lapsed into law on July 28, 2022.

RA 11913 declares August 12 of every year as the National Youth Day in consonance with the United Nations declared International Youth Day.

Under the new law, the National Youth Commission, together with the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will include discussions on career paths, Sustainable Development Goals, the preservation of the environment, gender equality, and mental health during the celebration of the National Youth Day.

All educational institutions were encouraged to come up with activities such as leadership training, youth empowerment, workshops, basic mass integration and community immersion as part of the National Youth Day celebration.

Meanwhile, RA 11915 designates the National Music Competitions for Young Artists as the Philippine National Youth Development Program for Music.

Under the law, NAMCYA will serve as the conduit for the discovery of outstanding musical talents in the country; the development of musicians; the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine music as an artform; and the undertaking of a continuing program of research, documentation and publication of Philippine music for dissemination to schools and the general public.

On the other hand, RA 11910 institutionalizes the annual Summer Youth Camps program as a way to inculcate a sense of social responsibility, patriotism, service to others and leadership among the youth.

“Patuloy natin na isusulong ang mga programa para sa ating mga kabataan. Investing in our youth is critical to the overall growth and development of our country. Conversely, failure to do so will lead to many problems that will negate whatever gains we have already made,” Angara said.