Republic of the Philippines
OF vache
ty

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BILL No. 6288

Introduced by HON, LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY™ F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Globalization has ushered in a demand for higher levels of

to further improve on it.
A Qualifications Framework is the structure into which accredited qualifications are

of education qualifications
is to encourage the development of national approaches to validating learning.

This bill proposes to institutionalize the POF previously established to enhance the
country’s higher education into a unified and qualified system. By establishing a

Framework, we allow learners to recognize occupational qualifications
fitting for the job or profession they are aiming for. It aims to devise an assessment

the ability to get qualifications at their own pace.
The approval of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Pvilippines
USE OF ree ENTATIVI
ty

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BILL No.6288

Introduced by HON, LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE QUALIFICATIONS
FRAMEWORK (PQF) AND ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL COORDINATING
COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION

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 “Philippine Qualifications
Framework (POF) Act of 2017.~

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — in line with the Constitutional guarantee for the State
to promote the right of all citizens to quality and accessible education at all levels, the
State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate and integrated
system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society.

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Qualifications Framework (PQF) to encourage lifelong leaming of

qualifications formally awarded and their equivalents,
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act. the following terms are
hereby defined:
A __ Basic Education refers to the education intended to meet basic learning
based. It encompasses kindergarten, elementary and secondary education

as well as alternative leaming systems for out-of-school youth and those
with special needs.


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‘CHED refers to the Commission on Higher Education.

Council refers to the Philippine Qualifications Framework National
Coordinating Council.

DBM refers to the Department of Budget and Management.
DepEd refers to the Department of Education.

DOLE refers to the Department of Labor and Employment.
DOST refers to the Department of Science and Technology.
DTI refers to the Department of Trade and Industry.

Higher Education refers to post-secondary education offered usually by
universities, colleges, academics or professional/technical institutions with
programs leading to academic degrees at the baccalaureate level and
academic degrees, diplomas or certificates at the post-baccalaureate levels.

NEDA refers to the National Economic and Development Authority.

PQF refers to the Philippine Qualifications Framework, a national policy
which describes the levels of educational qualifications and sat the
‘standards for qualification outcomes. |t is a quality assured national system
for the development, recognition and award of qualifications based on
standards of knowledge, skills and values acquired in different ways and
methods by learners and workers of a certain country.

PRC refers to the Professional Regulation Commission

Qualification refers to a formal certification that a person has successfully
achieved learning outcomes relevant to the identified academic, industry or
community requirements. A qualification confers official recognition of value
in the labor market and in further education and training.

Secretariat refers to the permanent technical secretariat that provides
‘support to the POF- NCC.

Technica! Vocational Education and Training refers to education
involving the study of technologies and related sciences, in addiction to
general education, as well as the acquisition of practical skills relating to
occupations in various sectors of economic life and social life, comprises
formal (organized programs as part of the school system) and non- formal
(organized classes outside the school system) approaches.

TESDA refers to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.


Trifocalized Education and Training refers to the shared administration of
the education system by three agencies responsible for each education
level: The Department of Education for basic education; the Technical
Education Skills Development Authority for technical-vocational education
and training; and the Commission of Higher Education for higher education.

SEC. 4. Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF). — The POF has the following
objectives

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8.

To adopt national standards and levels of learning outcomes of education;

move easily and readily between the different education and training sectors
and between these sectors and the labor market; and

To align with international qualifications framework (e.g. The ASEAN
Qualifications Reference Framework), thereby enhancing recognition of the
value and comparability of Philippine qualifications and supporting the
mobility of Filipino students and workers.

5. Philippine Qualifications Framework-National Coordinating Council
—To harmonize and promote a seamless education and training system,

(POF-NCC).
the POF National Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC) is hereby established. W shall be
composed of the following:

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Secretary, Department of Education (DepEd);
Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
Director General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA),
Chairperson, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); AND
One representative of the economic sector,

The POF-NCC shall be chaired by the DepEd Secretary.
The following are the powers and functions of the POF-NCC:

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Aligns education standards and leaming outcomes with the level descriptors
contained in the POF;

Promotes the POF and its elements including but not limited to their principles,
key features, definitions or terminologies, structure and governance
arrangements and provides information and guidelines in the implementation
of the POF;

Rationalizes the quality assurance mechanisms in Philippine education:
Develops and recognizes pathways and equivalencies;

Maintains the national registry of qualifications;

Ensures the international alignment of the PQF with the qualification
frameworks of other countries or regions;


9 Represents the country in intemational for & or negotiations in the wih
Qualifications agr

10. Reviews and updsted the POF;
11. Provides regular feedback on the progress and accomplishments to the Office
Mise ast Wate feel lll tir ede aaa
with respect to the implementation of the POF; and
12; Rerecnne wobh Gblec hincsoes Hn PY ba round the plasnaraali: che
POF

SEC. 6. Establishment of the Philippine Qualifications Framework-National
Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC) Working Groups. — Working groups shall be
established to pursue the implementation of the POF, especially in the areas of
qualifications register, quality assurance, pathways and equivalencies, information
and guidelines and intemational alignment

Each working group shail be chaired by a member-agency as may designated
by the POF-NCC.

‘SEC. 7. Participation of the industry Sector. — \ndustry sector representatives shall
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the alignment of educational outcomes with industry requirements and to the value of
qualifications with the workplace.

SEC. 8. Framework and Level Descriptors, — The POF shall incorporate the
qualifications level descriptors defined in terms of the following; knowledge, skills and
values, application, and degree of independence.

The PQF-NCC shail make detailed descriptors for each qualification level

education, competency standards of training regulations, and the policies and
standards of higher education academic programs. The PQF-NCC members shall
jointly implement national pilot programs to determine its relevance and applicability
in all jevels of education. Uisdiporseit ley Ace apr dedaghe yee ntl
market information regarding demand for specific qualifications and emerging
occupations as bases of the prioritization of learning standards development.

SEC. 9. Review of Assessment System. - The PRC and CHED shall review the
system of assessment of learning outcomes and align them with THOSE of the POF

SEC. 10. Technical Secretariat. - The PQF-NCC shall organize a permanent
Technical Secretariat. The Secretariat may contract the services of technical experts
and authorities on relevant areas of concem such as equivalencies, accreditation,
curriculum development, educational measurement and testing.

The PQF-NCC shall determine The structure, composition, staff qualifications
and the location of the permanent Technical Secretariat.


SEC. 11. identification of Priority Sectors. - As a preliminary approach to
implementation of the POF and to ensure its more focused implementation, CHED,
TESDA and DepEd, in consultation with industry, DOLE, PRC, the Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the
Deparment of Science and Technology (DOST) and other related agencies, are
directed to identify priority sectors and programs for the POF, taking into account labor
market realities.

SEC. 12. Support from Other Government Agencies. —- DOST, NEDA, Department
of Budget and Management (DBM), and other related agencies are hereby mandated
to extend the necessary support and provide relevant inputs towards the effective
implementation of the POF.

SEC. 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be sourced from the current budgets and development funds of CHED,
TESDA and DepEd. Thereafter, the funds mecessary for the continuous
implementation of this Act in the ensuing years shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DepEd, CHED, TESDA,

DOLE and PRC, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shail issue within
ea, a ease re Segre ce sear wre nei a eananncte:
effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 15. Separability Clause. — |{ any provision of this Act or any part thereof shall
be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions, as far as they are
separable, shall remain in force and effect

SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. — All taws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or
parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

‘SEC. 17. Effectivity, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of General Circulation.

Approved,