Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 
Introduced by Representative Dibu S. Tuan 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish a Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the Municipality of Lake 
Sebu, Province of South Cotabato. 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that “The State recognizes and 
promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of 
national unity and development” (Article II, Section 22). 
Further, when it comes to educational policies and programs, as well as 
livelihood interventions (which includes technological, vocational or similar skills 
training), our fundamental charter mandates that “The State shall take into account 
regional and sectoral needs xxx” (Art. XIV, Sec. 5 [1]). 
For far too long, the people of South Cotabato, belonging to diverse ethnic 
groups, have been disadvantaged when it comes to access to vital government 
facilities and services. 
This bill seeks to address at least in part the socio-economic inequalities 
through the establishment of a TESDA facility in the Municipality of Lake Sebu 
intended to provide the youth of South Cotabato with relevant, accessible, and 
efficient technical education and skills development in support of the development 
of high-quality middle-level manpower responsive and in accordance with our 
country’s development goals and priorities. 
August 27, 2025
12:18 pm
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In view of the foregoing considerations, the approval of this measure, at the 
earliest possible time, is earnestly sought. 
DIBU S. TUAN 
Third District, South Cotabato 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 
Introduced by Representative Dibu S. Tuan 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
A 
TECHNICAL 
EDUCATION 
AND 
SKILLS 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND ACCREDITATION 
CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LAKE SEBU, PROVINCE OF SOUTH 
COTABATO, TO BE KNOWN AS THE "LAKE SEBU TESDA TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT CENTER" AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Lake Sebu TESDA 
Training and Assessment Center Act". 
Sec. 2. Establishment. - There is hereby established a Technical Education 
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the 
Municipality of Lake Sebu, Province of South Cotabato, under the supervision of 
the TESDA, to be known as the Lake Sebu TESDA Training and Assessment Center. 
SEC. 3. General Mandate. - The Lake Sebu TESDA Training and 
Assessment Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide 
technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs to students and 
residents from low-income families and out-of-school youths, persons with 
disabilities, and serve as TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for acquired 
competencies for the people in Lake Sebu and in adjacent areas in the Province of 
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South Cotabato, in order for them to be more productive, self-reliant and globally 
competitive. 
 
The Center shall offer training programs on relevant skills trade competencies, 
craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship activities needed to deliver the effective 
employment interventions that will hasten the development of the host area and the 
adjacent localities in human resource and productivity hubs. 
 
The Center shall provide teachers' training assistance and curriculum design 
to the secondary schools offering technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) track under 
the K to 12 Program in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and 
the TESDA. 
 
Sec. 4. Training Programs. -The Center shall offer short-term certificate 
courses and modular trainings in preferred technical-vocational skills and trades 
specialization. Towards this end, the Department of Labor and Employment 
(DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of the Interior and 
Local Government (DILG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), 
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), business-industry 
partners, and such other relevant agencies and instrumentalities, both local and 
international, shall provide the necessary assistance to enable the Center to develop 
skilled manpower to achieve a robust inclusive economy in the host area and the 
adjacent localities. 
 
The Center may establish research and technology hubs, mobile training 
programs, and satellite or extension training centers to strengthen linkages among 
the industry, the academe, and the Center, geared towards the acquisition of practical 
livelihood, employable skills, gainful employment, and entrepreneurship in priority 
areas throughout Lake Sebu and in adjacent areas in the Province of South Cotabato, 
 
The Center shall offer the following TVET programs with competencies 
assessment leading to at least National Certification Levels I-III: 
 
(a) 
Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as metal and 
steel work, machine fabrication and operation, heavy equipment 
operation, automotive mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning, 
electronics, and operation of power tools and equipment for other 
medium skills grade and industrial purposes; 
(b) 
Agriculture-related trainings and farm skills development in such areas 
as farming technology and farm operations, backyard farming and 


home-based aquaculture and propagation innovations, mechanized farm 
tools and equipment operations, agribusiness and agri-trade technology 
and innovations, and relevant farmers' trainings for increased 
productivity and entrepreneurship; 
(c) 
Livelihood skill development courses for preferred skills employment 
and small-scale entrepreneurship, including practical skills education in 
parts and crafts, workmanship and design, high-speed sewing, 
dressmaking and tailoring, horticulture, livestock raising and breeding, 
food processing technology, home technology, culinary arts and 
commercial cooking, including baking, cosmetology, and health and 
wellness training; 
(d) 
Basic business literacy training in financial management and marketing, 
practical accountancy, bookkeeping and office procedures, business 
processes and application procedures including registration, licensing, 
documentation, business patent and intellectual property regulation, 
business financing and investment opportunities sourcing, import-
export accreditation, online home-based business operation, and use of 
social media business marketing; 
(e) 
Technical-vocational occupation and trades skills such as carpentry, 
masonry, plumbing, welding, practical electricity and installation, 
automotive servicing, electronics servicing, personal computer (PC) 
servicing, and such other relevant practical skills courses; 
(f) 
Computer literacy and information technology (IT)-related skills, digital 
technology, web design, animation, photoshop/online photography, 
computer design, and advertising; 
(g) 
Social communication skills development and language proficiency 
courses in English and other languages for business process outsourcing 
employment and overseas job placement; 
(h) 
Seminars on personality development, career counseling and job 
placement, work ethic and values; and 
(i) 
Other preferred priority skills and trades training that may be needed by 
the people of Lake Sebu and in adjacent areas in the Province of South 
Cotabato to enhance their capacities for practical livelihood, gainful 
employment, and entrepreneurship skills. 
 
SEC. 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. - The provisions of this 
Act notwithstanding, the Center shall become operational only upon the 
determination and certification by the TESDA, through the issuance of a formal 
recommendation and certificate of compliance, that the Center has satisfactorily 


complied with the minimum requirements for quality standards it has prescribed for 
the following: 
(a) 
Procedures and guidelines for the establishment and operation of a 
Center; 
(b) 
Operational sustainability of the Center in terms of licensed faculty- 
trainers and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities, 
instructional materials, and other standard requirements of a Center; 
(c) 
Sustainable funding source and allocation of budget requirement of the 
Center; 
(d) 
Training programs that are fully aligned with the minimum standards of 
competency-based quality technical-vocational skills technology and 
the needs of the host area and adjacent communities served in the 
context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 
Integration and the Philippine Qualification Framework (PQF) for 
TVET; and Compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and 
standards as may be necessary and applicable in establishing a Center. 
 
SEC. 6. Administration. - The Center shall be headed by a Technical-
Vocational Administrator, under the supervision of the TESDA, who shall render 
full-time services and be responsible for the administration and operation of the 
Center. 
  
The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall be appointed by the TESDA 
Director General in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service 
Commission and the qualification requirements for such office. 
 
The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall enter unto mutual agreements 
with locally-based private and public counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and 
persons, subject to the approval of the TESDA Director General, for such assistance 
as may be necessary to implement this Act. 
 
SEC. 7. Appropriations. -The amount necessary to implement the provisions 
of this Act, and its continued implementation thereafter, shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
The concerned local government unit (LGU), in consultation with the 
TESDA, shall set aside from any available local revenue an amount deemed 
appropriate as annual counterpart fund to support the operation of the Center 
established herein. 
 


SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days 
after the approval of this Act, the TESDA, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI, 
DOST, Department of Budget and Management, DILG, concerned LGUs, and such 
other relevant agencies and industry-business partners of the host locality, shall 
prepare and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act 
shall be deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof shall not be 
affected and shall remain in force and effect. 
 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, 
instructions, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provisions of 
this Act are repealed or amended accordingly. 
 
SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,