FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to create a Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Center in 
every rural barangays in the country to provide skills training, livelihood skills 
development, self-enhancement skills and social communication skills development. 
Section 21, Article I1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that the State shall 
promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform. Rural development is 
seen as a means to end poverty in this country. 
The Philippine Governments' medium-term strategy for rural development 
emphasizes economic growth with social inclusion. This highlights the need to ensure 
that while the macro-economic indicators of our country is sound, government must 
endeavor to make the fruits of economic growth felt by our population, thru rural 
infrastructure and facilities for growth and self-sustainability. 
To achieve this, this proposed measure ensures fund availability by requiring the 
Department of Interior and Local Government to set aside a potion of its annual 
appropriations for the operation and maintenance of said Centers all over the country 
while the Department of Labor shall render technical training and assistance 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A BARANGAY LIVELIHOOD AND SKILLS TRAINING 
CENTER IN EVERY RURAL BARANGAY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay Kabuhayan Act of 
2007." 
SEC. 2. Declaration. of Policy. - It is declared a policy of the State that the 
diffusion and more equitable distribution of opportunities, income and wealth shall be 
the goals of the national economic development programs and that an expanding 
productivity, coupled with sustained increase in the amount of goods and services 
produced for the direct benefit of the people, is the key to enhancement of the quality of 
life for all, especially the underprivileged. 
Consistent with the aforestated policy, the State shall to promote and support the 
establishment and maintenance of Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Centers ih 
every barangay in the country in order to enhance the productivity and uplift the 
economic status of the greater number of Filipino families. 
SEC. 3. Establishment of a Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Center. - A 
Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Center, hereinafter referred to as the "Center", 
shall be established in every rural barangay in the country in accordance with such 
program established and determined by the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government (DILG), taking into account the socio-economic profile, literacy, 
employment conditions, health staafus of the residents of the barangays, the 
opportunities therein available, the presence of support mechanics/ structures and skills 
craftsmanship training activities in the community, and such other factors indicative of 
the need for the Center: Provided, That priority shall be given to the most economically 
depressed areas with the highest percentage of disadvantaged and needy citizens. 
Initially and within a period of one (1) year from the date of the effectivity of this 
act, at least one (1) Pilot Center shall be established in each of the fifteen (15) regions of 
the country, including the Autonomous Region of Musl'm Mindanao and the Cordillera 
Autonomous Region. 


The Centers may be set up under the auspices of the local government units, 
particularly the barangay government, and/or non-government organizations tapped 
by DILG to assist in the implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 4. Program and Service. - The Center shall offer support programs for the 
unemployed men and women and the out-of-school youth belonging to the most 
indigent families in the barangay, as determined by the barangay and municipal or city 
governments concerned based on the criteria prescribed in Section 3 hereof. The Center 
shall also serve as a “Drop-In and Information Center”. 
In particular, the Center shall provide, among others: 
(a) Skills training services to develop the individual skills of residents of the 
barangay for employment or for small-scale entrepreneurship; 
(b) Livelihood skills developments to provide opportunities for barangay 
residents to engage in productive undertakings and income generating 
projects either through open, sheltered-, or self-employment, including the 
development of practical skills for backyard gardening, home-based aqua 
culture and livestock raising, basic business management, technical- 
vocational occupations, etc. 
(c) Social communication skills development towards the enhancement of basic 
communication skills to enable those with less formal education to better 
express/ communicate their thoughts, ideas and feeling; 
(d) Self-enhancement skills development, including the inculcation and value 
transformation programs to promote and advance people empowerment, 
self-reliance, self-help and similar values and enable barangay residents to 
discover their strengths and limitations, as well as develop and enrich their 
self-image; 
(e) Community participation skills development to promote and advance the 
barangay residents’ awareness and application of community mobilization 
approach, systems and techniques to create opportunities, implementation 
programs and projects, to promote the general welfare and advance the 
common good. 
The Center shall be assisted by the Department of Labor and Employment 
(DOLE) by rendering technical assistance and training to the personnel of the Center 
and shall be supported by barangay officials in encouraging the participation of 
barangay residents in the programs and training offered by the Center. 
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of 
Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of 
Agriculture (DA) and other government agencies shall gear their programs to support 
the activities and actions envisioned and implemented by the Center. 
SEC. 5. Operation and Maintenance. - 
(a) Minimum Requirements - A center must be located in an area which is safe 
and accessible to the residents; if possible, within the barangay hall or near its 
premises. 


(b) Maintenance - The DILG shall ensure that a portion of its annual 
appropriation shall be allocated for the operation and maintenance of the 
centers all over the country, and that they are supported by Local 
Government Units (LGUs) the Sangguniang Kabataan, non-government 
organization (NGOs) and civic-minded individual residents of the barangay, 
with appropriate network of support systems and mechanisms, including 
volunteer manpower. 
(c) Overall Authority Activities - the DILG shall have overall authority over the 
activities/services offered by the Centers, but the department shall ensure 
that the activities and services recommended by the LGUs are considered 
and, if meritorious, included. 
SEC. 6. Personnel. - The center shall be staffed with at least one (1) competent 
livelihood or skills training personnel prepared to execute and/or supervise the 
implementation or extension of the services offered by the Center. Further manpower 
support for the Centers may include the following: 
1. Chairman and/or members of the Sangguniang Kabataan; 
2. Volunteers from the private or public sector, including staff or the 
Sangguniang Barangay, members of socio-civic organizations, out of school 
youth or students on vacation; 
3. Students enrolled in practicum courses majoring in cooperative work, 
commerce and business administration and'other related fields. 
SEC. 7. Sponsorship .of Center/Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Centers. 
- Any private person, group, organization or business entity may sponsor the 
establishment, operation and/or maintenance of a Barangay Livelihood and Skills 
Training Center: Provided, That the activities, programs and projects of the sponsored 
center remain consistent with the objectives of this Act and subject to the control and 
supervision of the DILG: Provided, further, That the DILG shall adopt appropriate 
guidelines and rules and regulations to implement these provisions. 
SEC. 8 Donations. - The DILG may receive donations or bequest of property or 
services which shall be utilized only for the implementation of the program. Such 
donations or bequests of property shall be covered by the provisions of the National 
Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) exempting such from taxes and other fees and/or 
procedures. 
SEC. 9. FundinglAppropriations. - An initial outlay of One hundred million 
pesos (PlOO,OOO,OOO) for the first three (3) years of the program is hereby appropriated 
to implemented the provisions of this Act and the additional funding requirement for 
the program shall be included in the annual appropriations for the Department of the 
Interior and Local Governwpnt. 
SEC. 10 
the remaining 
provision held 
. Separability Clause. - if any provision of this Act shall be held invalid, 
provisions shall be given full force and effect as completely as of the 
invalid'had not been included herein. 
SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
Approved,