SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
Second Regular Session 
, m:c 7.2 p!\:11 
SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR TECHNICAL PREPARA nON EDUCATION IN PUBLIC 
SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 14, Section I 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 technological 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 
sk ills 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 dropout rate for high school students in the country and will 
produce youths who arc mature, responsible, and motivated to build good lives for 
themselves. 


The purpose of this bill is to establish a program of grants to consOliia of pubic 
high schools and state universities and colleges for the purpose of providing technical 
preparation education. 
~ 
~ ,O,~ 
MIRIAM DE}?~s~;(N~i'I.mo 
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* This bill was originally filed during tile Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
A 
j •. 
DEC 22 P 4 :11 
SENATE 
S. No. 
nl",: 'T, , 
. 
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Intror\ucect hy Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and fhl? House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR TECHNICAL PREPARATION EDUCATION IN PUBLIC 
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SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
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SECTION I. Short Title. -- This Act shall be known as thc "Tech-Prep Education 
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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 
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provide students with a non-duplicative sequence of progressive achievement 
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leading to competcncies in a technical preparation education program. 
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(B) "Technical preparation education program" means a comhined secondary and 
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post secondary program which~~-
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(1) I ,eads to an associate degree; 
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(2) Provides technical preparation 
111 at least 1 field of mechanical, 
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industrial or practical art, trade or applied science; 
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(3) provides competence in mathematics, SCience and communications, 
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including 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 
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secondary schools and state colleges and nniversities, for the development 
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and operation of 4-year technical preparation education programs leading to 
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an associate degree for youths; and 
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(B) To provide, in a systematic manner, strong, comprehensive links between 
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secondary schools and colleges. 
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SECTION 4. Program Authorizl!d . ... The Secretary of Education shall make grants 
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to pay the cost of activities carried out under this Act to consortia of -_ .. 
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(A) Public secondary schools or area vocational schools serving secondaI)' school 
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students; and 
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(B) State colleges and universities, including post secondary vocational technical 
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schools. 
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SECTION 5. Technical Preparation Education Programs . ... 
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(A) Genera! Authoritv . .. Each grant recipient shall use amounts paid under this 
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Act to 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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(I) Be carried out under an articulation agreement between the participants 
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in the consortium; 
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(2) Consist of the 2 years of secondary school preceding graduation and 2 
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years of higher education, with a common core of required proficiency 
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in mathematics, science, communications and technologies designed to 
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lead to an associate degree in a specific career field; 
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(3) Include the dcveloptnE'nt 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 tra ini ng for tE'achers that,-" 
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(a) Is designed to train teachers to implement effectively technical 
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preparation education cnrriculum; 
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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 
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sessions, institutes or workshops. 
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(C) Additional Authorized Activities. _. Each such program may~ 
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(I) Provide for training programs for counselors designed to enable 
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counselors to more effectively recruit students for technical 
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preparation education programs, and ensure their successful 
completion of such programs and thcir placGment in appropriate 
employment; and 
(2) Provide for the acquisition of technical preparation program 
equipment. 
SECTION 6. Applications.,· 
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(A) In General. -
Each consortium that desires to receive a grant under this 
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section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as 
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the Secretary shall prescribe. 
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(B) Five- Year Plan. - Each applkation suhmitted under this section shall contain a 
55-year 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 
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to create an effective technical preparation education program as described in section 5. 
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(D) Specia{ Consideration. - The Secretary shall give special consideration to 
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applicants whose applications----
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(I) Provide for effective employment placement activities or transfer of 
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students to four-year baccalaureate degree programs; 
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(2) Demonstrate commitment to continue the program after the termination 
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of assistance under this Act; and 
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(3) Are developed in consultation with busiI]('ss. industry and labor unions. 
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(E) Equitable Distribution of Assistance.- In making grants, the Secretary shall 
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ensure an equitable distribution of assistance among the regions and among a cross·· 
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section of urban and rural consortium participants. 
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SECTION 7. Repurts. . Each grant recipient shall. with respect to assistance 
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received under this Act submit to the Secretary such reports as may be required by the 
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Secretary to ensure that such grant recipient is complying with the requirements of this 
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Act. 
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SECTION 8. Authorization of Appropriations. -
There are authorized to be 
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appropriated such sums as may bc necessary in each fiscal year to carry out the 
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provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 9. Separahility Clausr . .. If any provision or part hcreot~ is held invalid 
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or unconstitutionaL the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 10. Repealing rIal/Sf'. ... Any law, presidentifll decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rulc or regulation contrary to 
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or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repeal cd, modified or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION J I. Effectivity (:fouse.· This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/mamt 
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