SENATOR Raffy Tulfo has filed a measure seeking to establish a Magna Carta for Out-of-School Youth to provide comprehensive government support and greater opportunities for millions of young Filipinos who are unable to complete formal education.

Under Senate Bill No. 2064, or the proposed Magna Carta of the Out-of-School Youth Act, Tulfo said the government must adopt a more comprehensive approach to address the challenges faced by out-of-school youth and help them become productive members of society.

In the bill’s explanatory note, Tulfo cited a November 2025 discussion paper by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), which showed that the country’s out-of-school children rate dropped from 5.9 percent, or 1.64 million children, in 2017 to 4.1 percent, or 1.16 million, in 2022. However, the figure rose slightly to 4.9 percent in 2023.

The senator noted that employment remains the strongest factor behind school non-attendance among high school-aged children, while early marriage significantly increases the likelihood of older youth dropping out of school.

Tulfo said the proposed measure is anchored on the 1987 Constitution, which recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and mandates the State to protect and promote their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being.

Although existing laws have expanded access to education through alternative learning systems, Tulfo said more must be done to remove the barriers that keep many young Filipinos from returning to school.

The bill seeks to strengthen government social protection programs and provide interventions that would help out-of-school youth realize their full potential.

It also aims to expand access to alternative learning systems, entrepreneurship education, free technical-vocational training, and employment and livelihood opportunities.

According to Tulfo, the proposed law is designed not only to help young Filipinos continue their education but also to equip them with the skills and opportunities needed to improve their lives and contribute to national development.

He urged Congress to immediately pass the measure, saying it would establish a stronger framework for supporting out-of-school youth and ensure that no Filipino is left behind in education and economic progress.