EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
)
S.B.
SENATE 
No. 2304
%
FLED
N£>EX
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT 
CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BANTAY, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR, 
TO BE KNOWN AS THE BANTAY, ILOCOS SUR TESDA TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT CENTER, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 1, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides that, 'The State shall 
protect and promote the rights of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall 
take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all."
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) was 
established through the enactment of Republic Act No. 7796 otherwise known as the 
"Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994" to encourage the full 
participation of and mobilize the industry, labor, local government units and technical- 
vocational institutions in the skills development of the country's human resources.
Bantay, Ilocos Sur is a 3rd class municipality with a total population of 35,731 
people, according to the 2015 Population Census. According to the Department of 
trade and Industry (DTI) 2020 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index, Bantay 
ranked no. 4 in Economic Dynamism and no. 5 in Overall Competitiveness among all 
3rd-4th class municipalities in the country.
The promising potential of Bantay and the continuously decreasing poverty 
incidence of the municipality are clear indicators of a viable economic growth of the 
community. As such, it is but fitting for the government to provide support for the 
upskilling of its residents, for them to cease opportunity and gain employment in their 
developing municipality.
This bill seeks to establish a Technical Education Skills and Development 
Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the Municipality of Bantay, 
Province of Ilocos Sur to be known as the Bantay, Ilocos Sur TESDA Training and 
Assessment Center to provide technical-vocational skills education, training, and


development of the residents of Bantay, Ilocos Sur through the establishment of 
research and technology hubs, technology development farms, satellite or extension 
training centers, promotion of mobile training programs, and strengthening the 
linkages with industry partners and the academe.
This bill also seeks to ensure that even those from low-income families, out of 
school youth, persons with disabilities, and indigenous people, who seek further 
development shall be afforded opportunity within their grasp and enable them to be 
competitive in the workforce equipped with practical livelihood skills, employable 
abilities, gainful employment opportunity, and entrepreneurial capabilities.
In view of the foregoing, the expeditious passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
IMEE R. MARCOS


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 2304
FILED
Kl>E X
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT 
CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BANTAY, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR, 
TO BE KNOWN AS THE BANTAY, ILOCOS SUR TESDA TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT CENTER, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembied:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Bantay, Ilocos Sur
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TESDA Training and Assessment Center Act."
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SEC. 2. Establishment - There is hereby established a Technical Education and
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Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training and assessment cente*" in the
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Municipality of Bantay, Province of Ilocos Sur, under the supervision of the TESDA, to
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be known as the Bantay, Ilocos Sur TESDA Training and Assessment Center. It shall
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be established in a highiy accessibie location in the Municipality of Bantay, pursuant
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to the purposes of this Act and to the agreement of the TESDA and the concerned
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local government units (LGUs).
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SEC. 3. General Mandate. - The Bantay, Ilocos Sur TESDA Training and
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Assessment Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide
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technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs to students, local
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residents from low-income families, and out-of-school youths, including persons with
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disabilities and indigenous peoples, in the Municipality of Bantay, and the neighboring
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localities in the Province of Ilocos Sur, to help them become productive, self-reiiant
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and globally competitive labor assets.
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The Center shall provide effective employment interventions through training
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programs on relevant skills in trade competencies, craftsmanship, and
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entrepreneurship to help hasten the development of the host area and the adjacent
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localities in the Province of Ilocos Sur into human resource and productivity hubs.


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The Center shall serve as a TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for acquired
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competencies in TVET programs in the Municipality of Bantay and adjacent localities
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in the Province of Ilocos Sur. It shall also provide teachers' training and curriculum
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design assistance to the secondary schools offering the technical-vocational livelihood
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track under the K to 12 Program in coordination with the Department of Education
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and the TESDA.
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SEC. 4. Training Programs. - The Center shall offer short-term certificate courses
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and modular trainings in preferred technical-vocational skills and trades specialization.
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To this end, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade
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and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of
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Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National
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Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), business-industry partners, and other
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relevant agencies and instrumentalities, both local and international, shall provide the
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necessary assistance to enable the Center to develop skilled manpower to achieve a
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robust and inclusive economy in the host area and its adjacent localities.
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The 
Center may establish research and technology hubs, technology
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development farms, satellite or extension training centers, promote mobile training
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programs, and strengthen linkages with industry partners and the academe in order
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to better provide the residents of the Municipality of Bantay and the neighboring
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localities in the Province of Ilocos Sur with practical livelihood, employable skills,
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gainful employment, and entrepreneurial capabilities.
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The Center shall offer the 
following TVET programs with competencies
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assessment leading to National Certification Levels I-III:
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(a) Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as metal and
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steelwork, machine fabrication and operation, heavy equipment
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operation, automotive mechanical assembly, refrigeration and air
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conditioning, electronics, and operation of power tools and equipment for
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both medium skills grade and industrial purposes;
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(b) Agriculture and aquaculture-related trainings and skills development in
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such areas as farming technology, fishing operations technology, backyard
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farming and homebased aquaculture and propagation innovations,
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mechanized farming, fishing tools and equipment operation, agribusiness,
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agri-aqua trade technology and innovations, and relevant farmers and
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fisherfolk's trainings for increased productivity and entrepreneurship;
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(c) Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and
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small-scale entrepreneurship, including practical skills education in arts
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and crafts, workmanship and design, high-speed sewing, dressmaking and
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tailoring, horticulture, livestock raising and breeding, food processing


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technology, home technology, culinary arts and commercial cooking, 
cosmetology, and health and wellness training;
(d) 
Basic business literacy training in financial management, marketing, 
practical accountancy, bookkeeping, 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 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 servicing, 
and such other relevant practical skills courses;
(f) 
Computer literacy and information technology-related skills, digital 
technology, web design, animation, photoshop/online photography, 
computer design, and advertising;
(g) 
Social communication skills 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, and work ethic and values; and
(i) 
Other preferred skills and trades training that may be needed by the 
people of the Municipality of Bantay and adjacent localities of the Province 
of Ilocos Sur to enhance their capacities for practical livelihood, gainful 
employment, and entrepreneurial activities.
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 
standards of quality prescribed by the TESDA governing the following:
(a) 
standard 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;
sustainable funding source and allocation of the budgetary requirement;
(c)
(d)
full alignment of the training programs offered with the minimum 
standards of competency-based quality technical-vocational skills


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technology and the needs of the host area and adjacent communities
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served within the context of Association of Southeast Asian Nations
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(ASEAN) integration and the Philippine Qualifications Framework for
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TVET; and
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(e) compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and standards, as may
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be necessary and applicable in establishing a Center.
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SEC. 6. Administration. -The Center shall be headed by a Technical-Vocational
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Administrator who shall be under the supervision of the TESDA, render full-time
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service, and be responsible for its administration and operation.
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The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall be appointed by the TESDA Director
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General in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission
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and the qualification requirements for such office.
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The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall enter into agreements with locally-
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based private and public counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and persons,
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subject to the approval of the TESDA Director General, for such assistance as may be
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necessary to effectively implement this Act.
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SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The Director General of the TESDA shall include in the
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Authority's program the operation of the Center, the funding of which shall be included
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in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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The LGUs concerned, in consultation with the TESDA, shall set aside from any
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available local revenue an amount deemed appropriate as annual counterpart fund to
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support the operation of the Center herein established.
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SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the
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approval of this Act, the TESDA shall, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI, DOST, DA,
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Department of Budget and Management, DILG, NEDA, concerned LGUs, and such
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other relevant agencies and industry-business partners of the host locality, prepare
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and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
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Act.
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SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision
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of this Act shall be declared as unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions
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hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of existing laws, orders, rules and
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regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of
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this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulations.
Approved,