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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
     Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 1818 
________________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: Representative Salvador A. Pleyto, Sr. 
_________________________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The rapid globalization and evolving economic landscape necessitate a workforce equipped 
with relevant and cutting-edge technical and vocational skills. While educational opportunities abound, 
there remains a significant gap in accessible, quality technical-vocational education and training 
(TVET) in many areas, particularly in developing municipalities. 
The Municipality of Santa Maria in the Province of Bulacan, a bustling and rapidly growing 
area, faces the challenge of matching its expanding population with adequate employment 
opportunities that require specialized skills. Many of its residents, especially the youth, could benefit 
immensely from practical, job-oriented training that directly addresses the demands of local industries 
and the broader national economy. 
This proposed bill seeks to address this crucial need by establishing a Technical-Vocational 
Institution in the Municipality of Santa Maria, under the direct supervision and administration of the 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). TESDA, as the primary 
government agency responsible for TVET, possesses the expertise, standards, and network to ensure 
that the institution provides high-quality and industry-responsive programs. 
The establishment of such an institution will serve as a vital catalyst for local development. It 
will provide Santa Maria residents, particularly the out-of-school youth, unemployed adults, and those 
seeking career advancement, with specialized skills, certifications, and entrepreneurial training, 
enhancing their employability and earning potential.  This will also contribute to the overall 
development of human capital in the region, fostering a more competitive and productive workforce. 
By appropriating the necessary funds for its establishment and continuous operation, this bill 
demonstrates a commitment to investing in the future of Santa Maria and its people. It is a proactive 
step towards building a more skilled, resilient, and prosperous community. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
SALVADOR A. PLEYTO, SR. 
July 14, 2025
10:27 am


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
     Quezon City 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 1818 
________________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: Representative Salvador A. Pleyto, Sr. 
_________________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
A 
TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL 
INSTITUTION 
UNDER 
THE 
SUPERVISION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND 
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF STA. 
MARIA, PROVINCE OF BULACAN, 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 “Sta. Maria, Bulacan Technical-
Vocational Institute (SBTVI) Act”.   
SEC. 2. Establishment. – There is hereby established in the Municipality of Sta. Maria, 
Province of Bulacan, a technical-vocational institution under the supervision and administration of the 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to be known as the “Sta. Maria, 
Bulacan Technical-Vocational Institute”. 
SEC. 3. General Mandate. – The SBTVI shall offer technical-vocational education and 
training (TVET) programs as a tertiary educational institution and provide competency qualifications 
for instruction in TESDA-registered TVET programs and certificate courses. It shall provide a wide 
array of relevant skills training and trade specialization courses to facilitate the acquisition by the 
citizenry of the necessary technical skills that shall enhance their access to gainful employment, 
practical livelihood, and entrepreneurial opportunities, and thus hasten the development of the host 
area and the adjacent localities in the Province of Bulacan into human resource and productivity hubs. 
Priority admission to the SBTVI, including availment of scholarships, grants-in-aid and other 
forms of student financial assistance, shall be given to the most economically disadvantaged students, 
out-of-school youths, persons with disabilities, and indigenous peoples of the Municipality of Sta. 
Maria and the adjacent localities to ensure their development into productive, self-reliant and globally 
competitive skilled labor assets. 
SEC. 4. Curricular Offerings and Training Programs. –The SBTVI shall offer TESDA-
registered TVET programs, undergraduate certificate courses, and short-term courses and modular 
trainings in preferred technical-vocational skills specialization. It shall aim to meet the competency 
requirements under Level V of Republic Act No. 10968, otherwise known as the “Philippine 
Qualifications Framework Act”, which is the Diploma Level in TVET.  
 


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To this end, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and 
Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Economic and Development 
Authority (NEDA), business-industry partners, and other relevant agencies and instrumentalities, both 
local and international, shall provide the necessary assistance so the SBTVI can produce skilled 
manpower to supply the needs of a robust and inclusive economy. 
 
Course completion at the SBTVI shall be credited through skills competency assessment under 
National Certification Levels III to V. When applicable, TVET competency shall qualify a student for 
academic degree recognition pursuant to Republic Act No. 10647, otherwise known as the “Ladderized 
Education Act of 2014”, provided that the requirements of the Commission on Higher Education are 
complied with.  
 
The SBTVI shall offer skills development for competency qualifications in areas relating to 
technical industrial education, trade technology, tourism, agricultural technology, business literacy, 
and innovation in TESDA-registered skills  
 
SEC. 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. - The provisions of this Act notwithstanding, 
the establishment of the SBTVI shall become operational only upon the issuance by the TESDA of a 
formal recommendation and certificate of compliance attesting that the SBTVI has satisfactorily 
complied with the minimum standards of quality it has prescribed.  
 
SEC. 6. Administration. – The SBTVI shall be headed by a Vocational School Superintendent, 
under the supervision of the TESDA, who shall render full-time service and be responsible for its 
administration and operation.  The Vocational School Superintendent shall be appointed by the 
TESDA Director General in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission 
(CSC) and the qualification requirements for such office.  
 
The Vocational School Superintendent shall enter into agreement with locally-based private 
and public counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and persons, and seek such assistance as may be 
necessary to effectively implement this Act, subject to the approval of the TESDA Director General. 
 
The academic and administrative staff of the SBTVI shall be organized following the staffing 
pattern of the TESDA for such type of schools, pursuant to existing laws, rules and regulations of the 
CSC. 
 
SEC. 7. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. - All assets, fixed and movable, personnel, records 
and documents, as well as the liabilities or obligations of the SBTVI shall be titled or named after the 
SBTVI. 
All parcels of land belonging to the government to be occupied by the SBTVI are declared as 
the property of the SBTVI and shall be titled under that name: Provided, That should the SBTVI cease 
to exist or such aforementioned parcels of land be no longer needed by the SBTVI, the same shall 
revert to the concerned local government unit (LGU), or to the Municipality of Sta. Maria or the 
Province of Bulacan, as the case may be. 
     
 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days after the approval of 
this Act, the TESDA shall, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI, DOST, DA, Department of Budget 
and Management, DILG, NEDA, the concerned LGUs, and such other relevant agencies and industry-


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business partners of the host locality, prepare and issue rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act shall be 
deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected and 
shall remain in force and in effect. 
 
 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules and 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are repealed or amended 
accordingly. 
 
 
SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,