Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2228
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Francisco Jose F. Matugas II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill, which was approved by the House of Representatives on
Third Reading during the 17" Congress, and transmitted to the Senate on
30 August 2018, seeks to establish the Siargao, Surigao del Norte TESDA
Training Center in the Municipality of Dapa, Surigao del Norte.

In 2018 Siargao was named as the Best Island in Asia by Condé
Nast Traveler. It received a total of around 163,000 local and foreign
tourists in the first half of 2018 alone.

The influx of tourists in the island, and the consequent
development, necessitates the establishment of a training center to equip
its residents with the skills necessary in entrepreneurship and other forms
of trade and industry, By properly training them, they will also learn
about self-reliance, commitment and participation in community-oriented
projects, This will also be a good avenue to equitably distribute
opportunities, income and wealth as well as expand productivity and
sustain the increase in the production of goods and services that will
enhance the quality of life, especially of those belonging to the
underprivileged sector in the community.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

FRANCISCO J . MATUGAS IT
Surigao del Nétte, First District
(Siargao Island)


Republic of the Philippines

Bouse of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2228

Introduced by Representative Francisco Jose F. Matugas II

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MANPOWER
LIVELIHOOD AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF DAPA, SIARGAO ISLAND, PROVINCE OF
SURIGAO DEL NORTE TO BE KNOWN AS THE SIARGAO, SURIGAO
DEL NORTE TESDA TRAINING CENTER, 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 “Siargao,
Surigao del Norte TESDA Training Center Act.”

SEC. 2. Establishment. — There is hereby established a Manpower
Livelihood and Skills Development Center in the Municipality of Dapa, Siargao
Island, Province of Surigao del Norte, under the supervision of the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to be known as the
Siargao, Surigao del Norte TESDA Training Center. It shall be established in a
highly accessible location in the Municipality of Dapa, Siargao Island, Province
of Surigao del Norte, pursuant to the purposes of this Act and to the mutual
agreement between the TESDA and the concerned local government units
(LGUs).

SEC. 3. General Mandate. — The Siargao, Surigao del Norte TESDA
Training Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide
relevant, and quality technical and vocational education and training (TVET)


including practical short-term specialty courses and one (1)-year to three (3)-year
‘TESDA-registered technical-vocational skills training programs and certificate
courses, to out-of-school youth, high school students and graduates,
underemployed adults, other workers in the informal sector, and residents from
low-income families, including persons with disabilities, in the Municipality of
Dapa, Siargao Island, and the neighboring towns and localities of the Province of
Surigao del Norte, to help them become productive, self-reliant and globally
competitive. The Center shall also aim to meet the maximum competency
requirements under Level V of the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF),
as institutionalized by Republic Act No. 10968 (“PQF Act”), which is the Diploma
Level in technical-vocational education.

The Center shall help the students and citizens in the Municipality of
Dapa, Siargao Island, and the adjacent areas and localities in the Province of
Surigao del Norte become productive, self-reliant and to be developed into
globally competitive middle to high-level skilled labor force to hasten the social
and economic development of these areas and of the entire province, and the
whole of CARAGA Region, as well as enable the trained local residents to meet
the manpower needs of both local and international labor markets.

The Center shall design and offer technical-vocational training programs
for the nine (9) municipalities of Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands by taking
into account the socioeconomic profile, literacy, employment conditions, market
and industry potentials, and skills competencies of the residents of the host
island area and neighboring municipalities and communities served within the
operational radius of the Center.

The Center shall also serve as TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for
acquired competencies in technical-vocational skills in the entire Siargao Island
and its neighboring towns and communities in the Province of Surigao del Norte.

As deemed necessary and practicable, and in coordination with the
Department of Education (DepEd) and TESDA, the Center shall render relevant
teacher's training assistance and curriculum design to the secondary schools
offering technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) track under the K to 12 Program of

the DepEd in the communities and areas in the Province of Surigao del Norte.


SEC. 4. Curricular Offering/Training Programs. — The Center, in
consultation with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DA),
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), business-industry partners, and
such other relevant agencies, both local and international, shall offer diverse
short-term certificate courses and modular trainings in relevant technical-
vocational skills and trades specialization to comply with employment standards
in preferred market-driven labor opportunities, but shall likewise give premium
effort to skills for local market employment requirements geared towards
achieving the development needs for a robust inclusive economy of the host area
and the adjacent localities within the operational radius of the Center.

‘The Center may establish research and technology hubs, mobile training
programs, and satellite or extension training centers in priority areas throughout
Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, and the other adjacent localities and
communities of the Province of Surigao del Norte not only to serve the manpower
needs of these areas, but also to strengthen the linkages between the industry,
the academe, and the Center.

The Center shall, as far as necessary and practicable, offer the following
TESDA-registered technical-vocational training programs with competencies
assessment leading to National Certification Levels I-IH, as applicable, to
address the development and manpower needs of Siargao and Bucas Grande
Islands, and the other municipalities of the province of Surigao del Norte to
increase the livelihood assets and competitive productivity of the host locality
and the entire Province of Surigao del Norte:

(a) Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as
metal and steel works, machine fabrication and operation, heavy equipment
operation, automotive mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics,
and operation of power tools and equipment for both medium skills grade and
industrial purposes;

(b) Agriculture and aquaculture-related training and skills
development in such areas, but not limited to, farming- fishing operations


(© technology, backyard farming and home-based aquaculture and
propagation innovations, mechanized farm and fishing tools and equipment
operation, agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology and innovations, and
relevant farmers and fisherfolk continuing training for increased productivity
and entrepreneurship;

(ad) Social communication skills development, language proficiency
courses in English and other languages for business outsourcing (call center)
employment and overseas job placement;

(e) Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills
employment and small scale entrepreneurship, including practical skills
education in crafts and arts, workmanship and designing (fabric, woodworks,
jewelry and metal works), horticulture, livestock raising and breeding, food
processing technology, home technology, culinary arts and commercial cooking,
including baking, beauty culture (includes cosmetology, hair & nail styling),
health and wellness trainings;

(0) Basic business literacy training in financial management and
marketing, practical accountancy, bookkeeping and 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,
inchading online home-based business operation and use of social media business
marketing;

(g)  Technical-vocational occupation and trades skills such as carpentry,
masonry, plumbing, practical electricity and installation, automotive technician
and servicing, electronics technician and servicing, welding technician, personal
computer (PC) servicing, and such other relevant practical skills courses;

(h) Computer literacy and information technology (IT) -related skills,
digital technology, web design, animation, photoshop/online photography,
computer design and advertising;

@ Seminars in personality development, career counseling and job

placements, work ethics and values; and


@ Other preferred priority skills and trades training that may be
needed by the people of the Municipality of Dapa and relevant as well to the
needs of the other areas in the Siargao Island, and the entire Province of Surigao
del Norte to enhance their capacities for practical livelihood, gainful employment
and entrepreneurship skills.

SEC. S. Compliance with TESDA Requirements.- The provisions of this
Act notwithstanding, the Center established herein shall become operationally
effective only upon the determination and declaration of the TESDA, through the
issuance of a formal recommendation and certificate of compliance, that the
Center has satisfactorily complied with the minimum requirements for quality
standards prescribed by TESDA governing the following competency assessment:

(a) standard procedures and guidelines (SPGs) for the establishment
and operation of a TESDA-accredited training center; b) operational
sustainability of the Center established herein, in terms of licensed faculty-
trainers and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities,
instructional materials, and other standard requirements as TESDA-accredited
Center; c) sustainable funding source and allocation of budget requirement of the
Center hereto established; d) assurance that the training programs offered are
fully aligned with the minimum standards of competency-based quality
technical-vocational skills technology and needs of the host area and adjacent
communities within the service area of the Center; e) program alignment in the
context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and PQF for
TVET; and f) compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and standards
as may be necessary and applicable in establishing a TESDA-accredited training
center.

SEC. 6. Administration. - The Center shall be headed by a Technical-
Vocational Administrator, who shall be appointed by the TESDA Director-
General in accordance with civil service rules and regulations and the
qualification requirements for such office.

The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall render full-time services
and shall be responsible for the administration and operation of the Center. As

far as necessary and practicable, and subject to existing procedures and to the


approval of the TESDA Director-General, the Technical-Vocational
Administrator shall enter into mutual agreements with local-based counterpart
agencies, or instrumentalities and persons, both private and government, for
such assistance as may be necessary to effectively implement this Act.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The Director General of TESDA shall include in
the Authority's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The LGU concerned,
in consultation with TESDA, shall likewise set aside from any available local
revenue an amount deemed appropriate as annual counterpart fund to support
the operation of the Center established herein.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days
after the approval of this Act, the TESDA, in coordination with the DOLE, the
DTI, the DA, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the DILG, the
concerned LGUs, and such other relevant agencies and industry-business
partners of the host locality shall prepare and issue the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section of this Act
shall be deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions
hereof shall not be affected and shall thereby remain in force and in affect.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees,
instructions, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision
of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.