Reflection Paper: Youth Policy Formulation Manual Summary:: Page - 1
Reflection Paper: Youth Policy Formulation Manual Summary:: Page - 1
Reflection Paper: Youth Policy Formulation Manual Summary:: Page - 1
United Nations formulate a youth policy manual in line with the belief that the
creativity and passion of young men and women and recognizing the unique
perspective of the youth on their current and future needs are quickly becoming national
and international priorities. Thus, a youth policy formulation manual is created by the
United Nations. The youth sector represent sector in the worlds population, 18 percent
of the population of the world comprises the youth or an estimate number of 1 billion
and 60 percent of the youth population resides in the Asia-Pacific Region. In Chapter I
of the article the following topics were analyzed; the concept of a national youth policy,
the rationale for a national youth policy, and the benefits of a national youth policy.
vision statement are the contents of the concept of national youth policy. A youth policy
should serve its purpose in which it should serve to empower, enable and inspire youth
and youth-serving organizations. The need of a national youth policy is based on the
rationale of it which indicates that youth represent a unique group within society; they
are advocates for change and hope within society but are particularly vulnerable to
societal pressures. They seek to be integrated, yet challenge the status quo. Also, the
spirit of cooperation between young and old, creating common goals for youth, the
government, NGOs and the private sector, providing a way to plan for the future of
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youth and raising the profile of youth as an important group within society are the
In Chapter II of the manual, the groundwork needed for the youth policy
formulation process has been discussed, and provided in the chapter are some general
questions and case studies that serve as a model for the guidance of policy makers.
need for an adequate financial and political support, it must be suitable for all the stages
of the youth policy formulation process and the participation of the youth in the policy
development is essential.
The content of a national youth policy is discussed in chapter III, it should have
the; foreword, rationale for the policy, definition of youth, youth profile, historical and
and documents, principles and values supporting the policy, goals and vision statement,
policy objectives, rights, responsibilities and obligations of young women and men, key
The success to ensure that the national youth policy is effectively implemented is
based on the following strategies that should be considered as discussed in chapter IV.
ensure that the national youth policy is integrated into broader sphere of policy, allowing
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for greater recognition and the possibility of more widespread action, mainstreaming a
Several international government bodies like the United Nations are hoping that
nations would follow the steps in the manual regarding the national youth policy
formulation process that would encourage key actors in policy making to bring the youth
into the sphere of policy formulation and implementation. It can be understood that the
youth in the future are the ones that would be shaping the nation in the near future and
it is only suitable that nation-building should start to the young portion of the population
because it would be their future that they would be responsible to build upon.
Analysis:
Through the years it has been perceive by many that the potential of the youth is
vital in bringing the development for a country. In the Asia-Pacific region it has a high
population resides in the Asia-Pacific region. United Nation recognizes the role of the
youth in contributing for the development of a nation, because of this vision of the
United Nation that they perceive to the youth they created a manual for nations in
creating national youth policies. Many countries especially in the continent of Asia
started to recognize the potential of the youth in formulating policies. In the Philippines,
National Youth Commission is created through the aim of representing the youth to be
by the law are to formulate and initiate the national policy or policies on youth, to plan,
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program, and establishment of a consultative mechanism for dialogue with the youth,
and link with government and non-government organizations both at the national and
international levels for the youths active participation in government and non-
government programs that will develop their full potential as partners in nation building.1
comprises of 16.1 million out of 76.5 million enumerated in the 2000 Census of the
government to grasp on by involving the youth in the development planning for the
nation. Opportunity must be given to the youth in the fullest extent to address the issues
concerning the issues surrounding the youth sector. Youth should be given the chance
to be actors for change and not only be a target for development2. The establishment of
the National Youth Commission paved the way for opportunities for the youth in nation
building and addressing the issues concerning the youth. Establishing such institution
seems in line with the vision of the United Nations upon creating the manual of the
national youth policy but if the youth is to be asked in the present situation if the efforts
of the commission are felt by the majority of youth population it could be said that it is
lacking on some extent. There would be no question in the policy formulation of the
National Youth Commission since there is already a guide for them to follow in
formulating policies to address the issues of the youth as provided by the United
Nations but is the implementation of such policies they formulate is being taken to
1
Republic Act 8044: The Youth in Nation-Building Act (1995)
2
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. (2009). The Role of Young People in Poverty Reduction.
Retrieved April 8, 2015, from United Nations; http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/publications/TPTPublication.pdf
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are still resurfacing and poverty involving the youth is still a prevalent issue in the
present context of the country. In education there is still turmoil regarding the
implementation of K-12 program in the country. The congress sees that the country is
not fully prepared in the changes the program would bring to the education sector in the
country. Classrooms were still lacking in most number of public schools in the
Philippines and the verge of unemployment for some teachers and some workers that
would be hit by the additional two years in basic education. Pasig City Representative
Roman Romulo said that he might seek for the suspension if the Department of
Education failed to address the problems mentioned3. This is one of the problems the
commission must focus on their policy formulation and must seek effective
implementation. Concrete policies and plans is needed to fully address the needs of the
youth it should not be limited only in creating a commission, seminars, conventions and
policy making, concrete implementation is needed to represent the needs of the youth
especially the youth that belong in the poverty sector and those that do not have formal
Local Governments were given the chance to utilize the youth population through
the Local Government Code of 1991, as they seek for the youth to be avenues for
and programs were the responsibilities given to the youth through the creation of
Sangguniang Kabataan that represented that youth in Barangays in the local level. In
the years, the Sangguniang Kabataan is marred by controversies in terms of its function
3
Arcangel, X. (2015, March 10). Solon Sees Problems in K-12 implementation might seek suspension. Retrieved
April 8,2015 from GMA News online: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/450081/news/nation/solon-sees-
problems-in-k-12-implementation-might-seek-suspension.
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and composition. Some Sangguniang Kabataan councils in some barangays in the local
level is composed of family relatives of the Barangay Chairman and Kagawad that serve
as a breeding ground for nepotism. The projects and programs of some Sangguniang
Kabataan in some local government were also put into question as some were only
limited to projects such as paliga or basketball leagues and pageants that seems not
fully affecting the situation of the youth. Several Congressmen were calling for the
abolishment of SK, but rather the Legislative body of the government called for the
postponement of the SK elections until 2016 to make way for the reforms the Congress
create for the betterment of the youth representation system. The reforms that the
congress proposed are namely: the adjustment of the age bracket of youth officials
provisions for fiscal autonomy for the youth council, a mandatory training program, the
There is a clear judgment that institutions in the Philippines must take into
consideration reviewing the efforts done to maximize the participation of the youth in
policy formulation and nation building. The actions taken by the National Youth
Commission and Sangguniang Kabataan is in line with what the United Nations
prescribe in their manual for national youth policy formulation but what lacks to these
institutions is the effects of the policies they formulate to ensure that there would be
youth empowerment prevalent in the country. Reformation must be done to avoid the
danger of cycle of traditional politics being practice by future lawmakers and statesman
that someday would have the chance to rule the country. Institutions in the Philippines
4
Bueza, M. (2015, February 2). Senate approves postponement of SK elections. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from
Rappler: http://www.rappler.com/nation/82694-senate-approves-postponement-sk-elections.
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must maximize the help and aid the country is receiving from such organizations such
as the United Nations that is willing to help the country in its development through the
utilization of the youth sector. Politicians and lawmakers must aid to the youth on steps
to be taken to achieve better decision making, but they must take into consideration that
they should limit themselves on guiding only the youth not to limit or dictate the decision
making of the youth sector because it would be their future that in question so they must
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Bibliography
Arcangel, X. (2015, March 10). Solon Sees Problems in K-12 implementation might seek
suspension. Retrieved April 8,2015 from GMA News online:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/450081/news/nation/solon-sees-problems-
in-k-12-implementation-might-seek-suspension.
Bueza, M. (2015, February 2). Senate approves postponement of SK elections. Retrieved April 8,
2015, from Rappler: http://www.rappler.com/nation/82694-senate-approves-p
ostponement-sk-elections.
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. (1999). Youth Policy and Formulation
Manual. New York: United Nations
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. (2009). The Role of Young People in
Poverty Reduction. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from United Nations;
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/publications/TPTPublication.pdf
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