Article II, Section 13, of the Philippine Constitution provides that "The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs".

In line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's directive to focus national government efforts on creating job and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable groups, Kasama Ka, Kabataan!, an emergency employment project for out-of-work/out-of-school youths (OWYs/OSYs) is hereby implemented. Kasama Ka, Kabataan! is the youth component of the Kabuhayan 2003 program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

A. DEFINITION OF TERMS:

1. "Out-of-work youths" (OWYs) - refer to persons 15 to 24 years of age, who are not enrolled in any formal or vocational school and are looking for work or unemployed.

2. "Out-of-school youths" (OSYs) - refer to persons 15 to 24 years of age, who are not enrolled in any formal or vocational school and are not looking for work.

3. "Proponents" - refer to the partner agencies of DOLE in the implementation of the Project, as follows: 

3.1 "Accredited Co-Partners" (ACPs)  - refer to the eligible partners or conduits of the Project. This includes government and private sector organizations. 

3.2 "Government" (GOs) - refers to government entities, whether national or local (i.e., local government units or LGUs) that exercise authority over the country or its political units, respectively, using a system of ruling and socio-economic administration. 

3.3 "Private Sector" - refers to non-government entities, which include employers groups, non-government organizations (NGOs), people's organizations (POs), working youth organizations (WYOs), cooperatives, rural workers associations and labor organizations.

B. OBJECTIVES:  

1. Provide OWYs/OSYs with 40,000 emergency employment opportunities through training, entrepreneurship and wage employment that could possibly be sustained with the assistance of partner agencies from the government and private sector.
2. Instill the values of discipline, hardwork, community service, teamwork and responsible citizenship on the OWYs/OSYs through productive undertakings. 

C. TARGET CLIENTELE AND COVERAGE:  

The target clientele of the kkk are the out-of-work/out-of-school youths in the National Capital Region, Regions III and IV.

D. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

A Project Management Team (PMT) within DOLE shall be created at the national - Central Project Management Team (CPMT) - and regional - Regional Project Management Team (RPMT) - levels. The PMT shall be responsible for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all Kasama Ka, Kabataan! projects initiated by DOLE.

Specifically, the RPMT will have the following responsibilities:

1. Promote kkk to prospective government and private sector partners;
2. Evaluate project proposals submitted by the proponents;
3. Extend technical assistance to the proponents as the need arises;
4. Endorse the proposals to the DOLE Regional Director for approval or further endorsement to DOLE Central Office;
5. Inform the proponent on the status of the submitted proposals;
6. Monitor and assess the implementation of the project based on the approved proposals; and
7. Submit monthly status reports to CPMT.

The PMT, through the DOLE Senior officials, shall also actively engage other government and private sector partners to participate, and shall closely coordinate with them in the implementation and/or monitoring of their Kasama Ka, Kabataan projects. For this purpose, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) shall be entered into by DOLE and the partner agency.

Possible partner agencies from government initially include the - 

- Department of Agriculture (DA)
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
- Department of Health (DOH)
- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
- Department of Tourism (DOT)
- Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC)
- National Youth Commission (NYC)
- National Housing Authority (NHA)
- Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
- Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
- Social Security System (SSS)
- Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)
- Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation (QuedanCor)
- Philippine National Police (PNP)
- Local Government Units

Partner agencies from the private sector are the employer groups and non-government organizations that have projects for the OWYs/OSYs. Possible partner agencies from the private sector initially include the -

- Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP)
- Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCI)
- Guild of Philippine Jewelers
- Magiclip
- Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)
- Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PhilExport)

These agencies are enjoined to enlist their respective programs/projects that cater to the OWYs/OSYs to Kasama Ka, Kabataan!

E. PROJECT COMPONENTS

Kasama Ka, Kabataan! shall have the following project components: 

- Wage Employment 

This refers to the employment of OWYs/OSYs in government and private sector projects dealing with environment, tourism, infrastructure and agriculture. 

Environment projects, for instance, may be in the form of Green Brigades, such as -

- tree planting
- cleaning of major thoroughfares
- garbage segregation, etc.

  and Blue Brigades, such as

- estero dredging
- bay clean-up, etc.

Tourism projects may involve the employment of OWYs/OSYs in the Visit Philippines Year (Wow Philippines) Program. 

Infrastructure projects may involve the hiring of OWYs/OSYs in the "Cleanliness and Street Maintenance'" and "Youth in Infrastructure" Programs. 

Agriculture projects may involve the hiring of OWYs/OSYs in the "Youth in Plant Nursery Development Program". 

Also included are summer jobs provided to the youth. Likewise, belonging to this category are projects providing for training-cum-placement to OWYs/OSYs for long-term wage employment. 

- Self-Employment 

This refers to training-cum-livelihood projects initiated by the government and private sector for OWYs/OSYs to earn income. The projects can be classified into "group projects" or "individual projects". 

Group projects should be implemented by an association or group of OWYs/OSYs. Examples of group projects include activities in manufacturing, which entail an assembly line, such as food processing, garments, handicraft, furniture and jewelry making. Another example is a mix of different micro-livelihood projects for a particular group of beneficiaries such as a community-based project that would provide livelihood for a particular group of OWYs/OSYs as ambulant beauticians, vendors, etc. 

Individual projects are projects implemented based on a business proposal and entrepreneurship capability of the OWY/OSY beneficiary, which may require a bigger amount of capital. Examples of an individual project include carwash business, fashion accessory-making, rug making, rolling food store, sari-sari store, beauty salon, etc.

II. Project Implementation

A. PROMOTION OF THE PROJECT

The PMT shall undertake activities to promote the kkk among prospective government and private sector partners. Promotion strategies may include but not limited to: 

- Holding meetings with the prospective proponents;
- Assisting the proponents develop project ideas; and
- Conducting media campaigns. 

B. SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT OF QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES

The RPMT shall tap its partners from the private sector and government, especially the LGUs, for the recruitment and selection of kkk beneficiaries. 

  1. For Wage Employment

1a Eligible Partner Agencies

- ACPs, GOs including LGUs, private sector entities such as employers groups, non-government organizations (NGOs), people's organizations (POs), working youth organizations (WYOs), cooperatives, rural workers associations and labor organizations

1b Eligible Beneficiaries

- Must be OWY/OSY
- Must be recommended by partner agency

1c Eligible Projects

- Green Brigade

- Cleanliness and maintenance
- Greening through tree planting
- Garbage segregation and etc.

- Blue Brigade

- Estero dredging in waterways
- Bay clean-up

- Public works
- Summer jobs
- Training-cum-Placement for wage employment

  2. For Self-Employment

2a Eligible Partner Agencies

- ACPs, GOs including LGUs, private sector entities such as employers groups, non-government organizations (NGOs), people's organizations (POs), working youth organizations (WYOs), cooperatives, rural workers associations and labor organizations

2b Eligible Beneficiaries

Individual beneficiaries

- Must be OWY/OSY
- Must have completed at least 2nd year high school
- Must be recommended by partner agency

Group beneficiaries

- Members of the group must be OWYs/OSYs
- Must be recommended by partner agency

2c Eligible Projects

- Project must be a new business undertaking, which shall include training to enhance entrepreneurial skills of the beneficiaries
- The product/service to be produced must have a ready market in the area and the neighboring barangays/towns

C. PREPARATION, EVALUATION AND APPROVAL OF PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR DOLE FUNDING

1. The proponent shall prepare the project proposal for kkk projects and submit the same to the RPMT for evaluation.
    
2. The RPMT shall evaluate the feasibility of the proposal and shall inform the proponent of the result of the evaluation. If the project is found feasible, the RPMT shall endorse the same to the DOLE Regional Director for approval or endorsement to DOLE Central Office as the case maybe.
    
3. Once approved, the RPMT shall notify the proponent about the approval of the proposal.
   
   
4. Execution of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
    
   Upon approval of the proposal, a MOA shall be executed by and between the DOLE Regional Office and the proponent, which shall be the basis for the release of funds to the proponent and monitoring of the project implementation. The MOA shall contain the terms and conditions for the implementation of the project. Specifically, it shall spell-out, among others, the number of targeted beneficiaries and where they are, and the respective roles of DOLE and the partner agency in terms of the tasking assignments and cost-sharing. The following are some points that should be considered in the MOA: 

   4a For Wage Employment
   

   - That for the initial period of project implementation, the DOLE shall subsidize the wages of the beneficiaries based on the mandated daily minimum wage for the region. The wage subsidy may be up to 100 percent. 

   - That the proponent shall provide the equipment, tools, jigs and other materials needed in the implementation of the project. 

   - That the proponent shall provide ways to sustain the implementation of the project. 

   - That upon replication of the project, the beneficiaries shall be the first priority in terms of job placement.

     4b For Self-Employment

   - That the proponent shall provide training to the beneficiaries (if DOLE provides the start-up capital). The training may be provided by the proponent itself and/or by another partner agency. 

   - That the DOLE shall subsidize the start-up capital. The capital subsidy may be up to 100 percent. 

   - That the proponent shall provide ways to sustain the viability of the project.

D. PROVISIONS RELATED TO FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

1. Sources of Funds 

1a Initially, P5.0 million from the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses under the budget for "Prevention of Job Losses and Assistance to Displaced Workers". Said fund cannot be utilized for the acquisition of equipment items with unit cost of P10,000 and above, per guidelines of the Commission on Audit. 

1b DOLE allotment from the President's Social Fund 

1c Regular program funds of the Regional Offices 

1d Pooled fund from the Central Office-Office of the Secretary and DOLE Attached Agencies

2. Use of Funds

The funds may be used to finance any expenditure item of the project, which may include payment of wages or provision of start-up capital for the beneficiaries. The DOLE may provide up to 100 percent of wage subsidy for wage employment projects, which is based on the mandated daily minimum wage for the region; and 100 percent of capital subsidy for self-employment projects.

3. Access to Funds

Filing, Processing and Approval of Applications shall be governed by the applicable provisions of Department Order No. 36-02 (s. 2002) Section IV.A-IV.G.

4. Approving Authority

The Approving Authority for projects shall be as follows:                                 

Amount

Approving Official

     

Below P50,000

Assistant Regional Director, provided his authority is confirmed by the Regional Director

     

P50,000 and above but below P500,000

Regional Director

     

P500,000 and above

 

- RPMT shall forward the project proposal to CPMT for oversight evaluation

     

P500,000 and above but below P1.0 million

Chair of the Kabuhayan 2003 Program of DOLE, upon recommendation of the Vice-Chair of Kabuhayan 2003; CPMT Team Leader; BRW (for self-employment), BLE (for wage employment), TESDA (for project with training); and FMS

     

P1.0 million and above

Secretary of Labor and Employment, upon recommendation of the Chair of the Kabuhayan 2003 Program of DOLE as endorsed by the Vice-Chair of Kabuhayan 2003; CPMT Team Leader; BRW, BLE or TESDA as the case may be; and FMS

 

5. Release of Funds

Release of funds shall be made in accordance to the applicable provisions of Department Order No. 36-02 (s. 2002) Section V.

The FMS shall also release a lump-sum fund to the Regional Offices upon submission of their respective Work and Financial Plans to facilitate the implementation of projects that are within the approving authority of the Regional Director.

III. Monitoring, Assessment and Evaluation

A. The RPMT shall be responsible for monitoring, evaluation and reporting of projects implemented by the proponents. It shall be assisted by the Provincial Extension Unit (PEU) concerned, which shall conduct validation during the actual project implementation. Field visits shall be conducted monthly (or more frequently, if the project is only of short duration) to determine and ensure: 

- that the activities being implemented are in accordance with the approved project proposal;
- that OWYs/OSYs are absorbed as project beneficiaries; and
- that the proponent complies with the terms and conditions stipulated in the MOA. 

B. The proponent shall submit the following reports to the RPMT: 

- Monthly project status report (see attached Form 1);
- Terminal Report on completed projects within a month after project completion (see attached Form 2), including List of Project Beneficiaries (see attached Form 2-A) and kkk Intake Form (see attached Form 2-B), copy furnished the CPMT. 

C. The RPMT shall verify, review and consolidate the reports submitted by the proponents, and submit Monthly kkk Status Report (see attached Form 3) to the CPMT, copy furnished FMS and PS.

The monthly progress report shall be submitted to the CPMT within 10 days after the end of the reference month.

D. Based on the reports submitted, the CPMT shall submit monthly reports to the Secretary with sufficient analysis and recommendation.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 2 April 2003

(SGD.) PATRICIA A. STO. TOMAS
  Secretary