FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1731 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
) 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 14, Section 1 provides: 
The State shall protect and promote. the right of all citizens to quality 
education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education 
accessible to all. 
Rapid teclmological advances and global economic competition demand increased levels 
of skilled technical education preparation and readiness on those entering the work force. 
A combination of non-traditional school-to-work technical education programs, using 
state of the art equipment and appropriate technologies, will provide students with skills in the 
liberal and practical arts and in basic academics, with the intense technical preparation necessary 
for finding a position in a changing workplace. 
It will also reduce the dropont rate for high school students in the country and will 
produce youths who are mature, responsible, and motivated to build good lives for themselves. 
The purpose of this bill is to establish a program of grants to consortia of pubic high 
schools and state universities and colleges for the purpose of providing technical preparation 
education.' 
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MIRIAM DEFE SOR SA'NTIAW'0 
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• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPlNES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENt731 
S.No. ___ =-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR TECHNICAL PREPARATION EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SECONDARY 
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SGHOOLS AND STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Tech-Prep Education Act." 
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SECTION 2. Definitions of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(A) . "Articulation agreement" means a commitment to a program designed to provide 
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students with a non-duplicative sequence of progressive achievement leading to 
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competencies in a technical preparation education program. 
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(B) "Technical preparation education program" means a combined secondary and post 
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secondary program which-
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(I) Leads to an associate degree; 
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(2) Provides technical preparation in at least I field of mechanical, industrial or 
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practical art, trade or applied science; 
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(3) provides competence in mathematics, science and communications, including 
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through applied academics; and 
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(4) Leads to placement in employment. 
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SECTION 3. Purpose. - It is the purpose of this Act-
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(A) To provide planning and demonstration grants to consortia of public secondary 
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schools and state colleges and universities, for the development and operation of 4-
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year technical preparation education programs leading to an associate degree for 
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youths; and 
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(B) To provide, in a systematic manner, strong, comprehensive links between secondary 
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:schools and colleges. 
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SECTION 4. Program Authorized. - The Secretary of Education shall make grants to pay 
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the cost of activities carried out under this Act to consortia of-
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(A) Public secondary schools or area vocational schools servmg secondary school 
students; and 
(B) State colleges and universities, including post secondary vocational tec1mical 
schools. 
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SECTION 5. Technical Preparation Education Programs. -
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(A) General Authority. - Each grant recipient shall use amounts paid under this Act to 
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develop and operate a 4-year technical preparation education program. 
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(B) Contents of Program. - Each such program shall 
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(1) Be carried out under an articulation agreement between the participants in the 
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consortium; 
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(2) Consist of the 2 years of secondary school preceding graduation and 2 years 
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of higher education, with a common core of required proficiency in 
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mathematics, science, communications and technologies designed to lead to 
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an associate degree in a specific career field; 
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(3) Include the development of technical preparation education program 
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curriculum appropriate to the needs of the consortium participants; and 
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(4) Include in-service training for teachers that-
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(a) Is designed to train teachers to implement effectively technical 
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preparation education curriculum; 
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(b) Provides for joint training for teachers from all participants in the 
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consortium; and 
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(c) May provide such training in weekend, evening and summer sessions, 
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institutes or workshops. 
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(C) Additional Authorized Activities. - Each such program may-
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(1) Provide for training programs for counselors designed to enable 
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counselors to more effectively recruit students for technical preparation 
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education programs, and ensure their successful completion of such 
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programs and their placement in appropriate employment; and 
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(2) Provide for the acquisition of technical preparation program equipment. 
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SECTION 6. Applications. -
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(A) In General. - Each consortium that desires to receive a grant under this section shall 
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submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall 
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prescribe. 
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(B) Five-Year Plan. - Each application submitted under this section shall contain a 5-year 
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plan for the development and implementation of activities under this Act. 
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(C) Approval. - The Secretary shall approve applications based on their potential to 
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create an effective technical preparation education program as described in section 5. 
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(D) Special Consideration. - The Secretary shall give special consideration to applicants 
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whose applications-
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(1) Provide for effective employment placement activities or transfer of students 
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to four-year baccalaureate degree programs; 
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(2) Demonstrate commitment to continue the program after the termination of 
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assistance under this Act; and 
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(3) Are developed in consultation with business, industry and labor unions. 
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(E) Equitable Distribution of Assistance. - In making grants, the Secretary shall ensure 
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an equitable distribution of assistance among the regions and among a cross-section of urban and 
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rural consortium participants. 
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SECTION 7. Reports. - Each grant recipient shall, with respect to assistance received 
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under this Act, submit to the Secretary such reports as may be required by the Secretary to ensure 
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that such grant recipient is complying with the requirements of this Act. 
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SECTION 8. Authorization of Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated 
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such sums as may be necessary in each fiscal year to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part here.of, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (I5) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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