PROMOTING A YOUTH NATIONAL SERVICE

WHEREAS, on the part of government, we must live within our means and
run a lean, efficient government. This includes continued fiscal
prudence and efforts to work towards a balanced budget. All the while,
we must also simultaneously invest in key programs for our people:
economy, environment, education;

WHEREAS, On the part of the people, now is the time for pulling
together and focusing on family and the community. We must initiate a
new era of volunteerism and community spirit. This should include the
government, religious and civic groups and non- governmental
organizations harnessing our people to engage in coordinated volunteer
activities. We should focus on initiatives such as cleaning up our
environment, building parks and planting trees and bringing comfort to
the poor through food banks and bringing the dignity of literacy to
adults who cannot read;

WHEREAS, during these trying times, the Philippine spirit and
commitment to caring should prompt each of us to count our blessings and
give back to those who are less fortunate. Our nation needs us all
pulling in the same direction. Volunteering time, skill and resources is
a noble undertaking we should all take seriously;

NOW THEREFORE, I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. A youth national service targeting
18 to 24 year-olds is hereby promoted. This national service shall be
composed of a National Service Corps and a Youth Conservation Corps.

SECTION 2. The National Service Corps shall be like a
domestic “Peace Corps.” It shall be geared to the unemployed or
underemployed skilled youth or college graduates. It shall focus on
their contributions to education and community service programs. Such
youth shall be recruited to undertake a two-year national service
commitment with a modest stipend.

SECTION 3. The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
shall be composed of the unskilled or less-educated youth. They shall
focus on environmental and infrastructure projects. Such youth shall be
recruited to likewise undertake a two-year national service commitment
with a modest stipend. The current program known as Out of School Youth
Serving Towards Economic Resiliency (OYSTER) shall be subsumed into the
YCC.

SECTION 4. The funding for
the national service shall initially come from the savings of all the
national agencies, including government owned and controlled
corporations, of one and a half percent (1.5%) of their maintenance,
operating and overhead expenses and from the Road User’s Tax.
Thereafter, it shall be supplemented by specific provisions in the
annual national budget submitted to Congress.

SECTION 5. The national service shall be coordinated by
the National Youth Commission. The National Service Corps shall be
implemented by the Department of Education and the Department of Social
Welfare and Development. The YCC shall be implemented by the Philippine
National Police with the support and assistance of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Public Works and
Highways.

SECTION 6. This Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 30 March 2009

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines         

BY THE PRESIDENT:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary