SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of tl’f ftftifta r p
’16 DEC 14 All 25
SENATE 
S. B. No. 1 2 8 3
RK£IV1;L)B\;
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING AND ENHANCING THE SKILLS CERTIFICATE 
EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM (SCEP) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION 
(CSC) AND THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 
AUTHORITY (TESDA) AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Under Republic Act 1080, the bar examinations and the examinations given 
by the various boards of examiners of the government are declared as civil service 
examinations. Several laws also grant appropriate civil service eligibility to qualified 
individuals.
This bill seeks to grant the same privilege to certified tech-voc graduates or 
National Certificate (NC) holders by institutionalizing and enhancing the Skills 
Certificate Equivalency Program (SCEP), a partnership between the Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Civil Service 
Commission (CSC).
The SCEP involves the assessment and certification of the competencies of 
workers through the Philippine TVET competency assessment and certification 
system. The assessment process, composed of a demonstration, questioning and a 
written test, seeks to determine whether a tech-voc graduate or worker can perform 
to the standards expected in the workplace. A national certificate is awarded to those 
who meet the competency standards. The entire process is only carried out in 
accredited TESDA centers with the presence of the agency’s accredited assessors.
Under the SCEP, the CSC grants the appropriate civil service eligibility to an 
NC holder who may be a government skilled worker or any individual seeking 
entrance into the civil service. An individual who possesses a valid NC may file an 
application for the conversion of his or her NC to a civil service eligibility at any office 
of the Civil Service Commission nationwide.


This proposal adheres with the constitutional guarantee that appointment in 
the civil service shall be made only according to merit and fitness principle. A 
National Certificate issued by TESDA is a proof of one’s expertise on a certain skill 
or set of skills. It is an assurance of the competencies of a skilled worker.
In fact, the formulation of qualification standards follows a stringent process 
that starts from endorsement of qualifications by the industry stakeholders to the 
TESDA Board to the approval of these qualifications for the development of training 
regulations. To ensure the appropriateness and relevance of these training 
regulations, and their accompanying competency-assessment tools, TESDA 
conducts a periodic review of these training regulations. As of December 2015, 
TESDA has 255 promulgated training regulations.
Furthermore, TESDA’s nationwide ISO 9001:2008 Certification is an 
irreversible reform that can guarantee the quality of TESDA’s services. The 
agency was also awarded with the Recognition for Commitment to Quality 
Management of the Philippine Quality Awards (PQA) and now belongs to the 
roster of government offices and private organizations in the Philippines 
recognized for their performance excellence.
Hence, with a quality-assured and globally recognized tech-voc training, 
assessment and certification systems in the Philippines, there is no doubt that the 
institutionalization and enhancement of SCEP will even strengthen the practice of 
meritocracy in the government. Like a professional license issued by the 
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), a National Certificate issued by TESDA 
forms part of the requirements being sought by recruitment agencies and private 
companies for Filipinos seeking employment in the country and abroad.
The passage of this bill will ensure the security of tenure of qualified skilled 
workers in the government, provide equal opportunites to middle skill workers to 
enter the civil service and, certainly, improve the image of tech-voc in the country.
SENATO^OEL VILLANUEVA


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. B. No.
oHI'f ^  c r t s r w
•16 DEC 14 All 25
R£CtlVCD Bi-.
1283
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING AND ENHANCING THE SKILLS CERTIFICATE 
EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM (SCEP) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION 
(CSC) AND THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 
AUTHORITY (TESDA) AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Skills Certificate 
Equivalency Program Act of 2016.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. In line with the constitutional provision ensuring 
that appointments in the civil service shall be made only according to merit and 
fitness principle, it is hereby declared the policy of the state to institutionalize and 
enhance the Skills Certificate Equivalency Program (SCEP). Furthermore, it is the 
policy of the state to give equal opportunity to certified technical-vocational education 
and training (TVET) graduates to enter the civil service, uplift the dignity of middle 
skill workers, and improve the image of tech-voc in the country.
SEC. 3. Skills Certificate Equivalency Program. - The Skills Certificate 
Equivalency Program aims to grant civil service eligibility to TESDA-issued National 
Certificate holders.
The program involves the issuance of National Certificate to an individual who shall 
successfully demonstrate the required competencies in a specific qualification. An 
National Certificate shall be provided equivalent civil service eligibility by the Civil 
Service Commission.


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SEC. 4. 
Enhancement of SCEP 
-
 The Civil Service Commission and the 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority are directed to jointly devise 
procedures and mechanisms, as well as to issue, amend and update existing 
guidelines, as necessary, for the efficient and effective implementation of SCEP.
The CSC shall ensure that there are designated personnel at its field offices 
nationwide who shall be responsible for the conversion of National Certificates to 
appropriate civil service eligibilities.
SEC. 5. Coverage. -  Civil service eligibility shall be granted to National Certificate 
holders who are either working in the government or seeking entrance into the civil 
service for positions with qualification standards requiring eligibility thru an 
appropriate TESDA-issued National Certificate.
SEC. 6. 
Identification of positions with qualification standards requiring 
eligibility through TESDA-issued National Certificates. The CSC and TESDA are 
directed to identify qualification standards requiring eligibility through an appropriate 
TESDA-issued National Certificate (NC), taking into account the changing 
requirements of the workplace and the needs of the government to improve its 
programs and to provide better services.
SEC. 7. Application and conversion. -  An National Certificate holder may file his 
application for conversion to an appropriate civil service eligibility at any office of the 
CSC nationwide.
SEC. 8. Award of Eligibility — The individual who possesses the required National 
Certificate for positions covered by SCEP and other positions which the CSC and 
TESDA will jointly identify from time to time shall be granted a civil service eligibility: 
Provided, That the National Certificate remains in the roster of promulgated national 
qualifications of TESDA; Provided, further, That the grant of civil service eligibility 
shall be based on an unexpired National Certificate.
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Civil Service Commission 
and TESDA shall issue within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, the rules 
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
memoranda, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain 
in full force and effect.


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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.