Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 5462)
The title of Republic Act No. 5462 is the Manpower and Out-of-School Youth Development Act of the Philippines.
The Act establishes a national policy to train and develop human resources and create integrated plans to ensure efficient allocation, accelerated development, and optimum utilization of the nation's manpower and out-of-school youth to develop civic efficiency and strengthen family life.
Manpower is defined as the portion of the nation's population which has the actual or potential capability of contributing directly to the production of goods and services.
Out-of-school youth refers to persons between the ages of twelve to seventeen years who are not regularly enrolled and undergoing formal academic or vocational training in an institution recognized by the government.
The National Manpower and Youth Council (the Council) is created under this Act in the Office of the President.
The Council is composed of ex-officio members such as the Secretary of Labor (Chairman), Secretary of Education (Vice-Chairman), Chairman of the National Economic Council, Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Secretary of Social Welfare, Secretary of Community Development, and Chairman of the National Science Development Board, plus six appointees from the private sector.
The Council formulates comprehensive plans for manpower and out-of-school youth development, organizes training centers and programs, promulgates policies and standards, administers manpower programs, promotes employment schemes, evaluates human resource programs, provides training assistance to employers, and submits annual reports to the President and Congress.
The Secretariat is headed by a Director-General appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. The Secretariat includes the Office of Manpower Planning and Development, Office of Out-of-School Youth Development, and the National Manpower Skills Center.
They must be natural born citizens, aged 35 to 50 years at appointment, have a master's degree or equivalent, and experience in national planning and human resource development. The Director of the Skills Center must also have training in center management.
These are consultative boards established within the Secretariat to provide technical guidance, set accreditation standards, and advise on planning and conducting manpower and out-of-school youth training programs.
Local committees may not include officers, enlisted men, or personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Philippine Constabulary.
It assists the Council in measuring unemployment and underemployment, conducting manpower surveys and occupational studies, maintaining the national register of trained technicians and skilled manpower, and organizing local employment offices under its supervision.
The Director-General appoints personnel, subject to civil service rules. Permanent appointment requires satisfactory completion of specialized career development courses. After one year from the Act's approval, competitive examinations will be held for appointments.
Twenty million pesos are appropriated for personnel and operational expenses, establishment of the Council site and national skills center, operation of training centers, and establishment of out-of-school youth centers.
The invalidity of any part shall not affect other sections or provisions of the Act, maintaining the remainder of the law intact (separability clause).
The Act took effect upon its approval on April 11, 1969.