NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC )
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1689
^eantf
of llif rrrtirrp
23 JAN 17 P5 :06
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T, Tulfo
"AN ACT ESTABLISHING JOB PLACEMENT OFFICES IN PUBLIC HIGH 
SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CAREER SERVICES TO THE YOUTH"
Explanatory Note
The comprehensive reform of the Philippine education system in 2012 led to 
the introduction of the K-12 program, which sought to enhance the capability and 
employability of Filipinos even without the pursuit of vocational courses or a college 
degree. Recent years have seen increasing concerns about the employment of senior 
high school graduates.
With the lack of access to job opportunities, this bill seeks to assist K-12 
graduates through the establishment of Job Placement Offices, referred to as "Trabaho 
Centers", in all public high schools. These offices shall work in coordination with the 
provincial, city, or municipal public employment services offices with the supervision 
of the Department of Education (DepEd). The Trabaho Centers shall be responsible 
for preparing senior high school graduates in choosing a career path that fits their 
respective skills and preferences. This office shall keep an up-to-date database of job 
vacancies, provide job linkages and networking opportunities, administer testing 
evaluation instruments, organize career enhancement training and coaching, and help 
assist students in understanding the results of their National Career Assessment
Examination (NCAE).
In view of the foregoing, the urgent passin^f this bill is earnestly\)ught.


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC )
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1 o o 9
23 JAN 17 P5 -06
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
"AN ACT ESTABLISHING JOB PLACEMENT OFFICES IN PUBLIC HIGH 
SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CAREER SERVICES TO THE YOUTH"
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Trabaho Centers in 
Schools Act".
Sec 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to promote full 
employment and equality of employment opportunities for all and to afford full 
protection to the youth entering the labor force. In line with the current reforms in 
the education sector, the State recognizes the need to prepare the youth in choosing 
the career tracks that they intend to pursue and to aid in matching senior high 
school students with career opportunities after graduation.
Sec 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purpose of this Act, the following terms 
shall refer to:
(a) Career Advocacy Activities - a series of activities intended to 
prepare students for productive career decisions that include but are 
not limited to career assessment and coaching, training, and job­
matching.
(b) Career Development Plan - annual career development tool that 
outlines the intended outcomes and the strategic management of 
programs/services to collectively achieve the end goals of the Trabaho 
Centers.


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(c) Labor Market Information (LMI) - any information concerning the size,
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composition, functions, probiems, or opportunities of the labor market or
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any part thereof, inciuding but not iimited to employment-related intentions
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or aspirations of the iabor market ciients.
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(d) National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) - a system of
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assessing or evaluating the potential or aptitude of each and every high
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school student to guide their decisions in pursuing further education or
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empioyment.
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(e) Skills Registry System (SRS) - an existing system utiiized by the
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Department of Labor and Empioyment (DOLE) containing potentiai
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applicant and employment information.
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Sec 4. Establishment of Trabaho Centers in Schools. — Job Piacement Offices
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(JPOs), referred to as "Trabaho Centers," shaii be estabiished in aii pubiic high
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schools.
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Trabaho Centers shall work in coordination with the Provinciai, City, or
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Municipai Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) and shaii be supervised by
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Trabaho Center Coordinators in Department of Education (DepEd) Division Offices.
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The Trabaho Center Coordinators shaii encourage partnerships among Educational
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Institutions (Eis), Non- Government Organizations (NGOs), Industry Associations
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and Members, and Local Government Units (LGUs) in the establishment and
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management of the Trabaho Centers. In appiicable areas, existing JPOs in
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educationai institutions shaii continue to operate as Trabaho Centers subject to
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the provisions of this Act. Schoois shall explore new and innovative systems to
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carry out the provisions of this Act, inciuding partnering with the private sector or
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NGOs for an oniine piatform. The Trabaho Centers shaii be responsibie for
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preparing the youth in choosing career tracks fit for their taients, skiiis and
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preferences and in matching these to the needs of the current and future iabor
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market.
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Sec 5. Trabaho Center Career Advocates. — All Trabaho Centers shall have at
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least one (1) Trabaho Center Career Advocate with the foiiowing functions:
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(a) Keep an up-to-date database of job vacancies from employers to
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facilitate the exchange of labor market information between young job


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seekers and employers by providing employment information services 
specific to Senior High School, both for local and overseas employment;
(b) 
Provide job linkages and networks to employers in coordination with 
the provincial, city, or municipal PESOs;
(c) Develop and administer testing and evaluation instruments for 
effective job selection, training, and coaching specific to young job 
seekers currently enrolled in educational institutions. Provided, those 
examinations are administered by qualified professionals;
(d) Organize or coordinate career enhancement training or seminars for 
young job seekers, as well as those who would like to pursue further 
education, livelihood or self-employment programs;
(e) Provide career advocacy and coaching, mass motivation and values 
development activities integrated in career programs specifically 
designed for Enhanced Basic Education Curriculum students;
(0 Connect and partner with concerned NGOs to expand opportunities in 
improving the quality of employment facilitation programs offered in their 
school;
(g) Lead the teachers within their school in the administration of the annual 
National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) and assist the students in 
understanding how to use their test results as a guide in choosing their 
career tracks;
(h) Prepare and submit to the Trabaho Center Coordinator a school- 
specific annual career development plan and budget, including other 
regular funding sources and budgetary support; and
(i) Prepare and submit a quarterly progress report on students assisted 
and coached to the Trabaho Center Coordinator.
Sec 6. Trabaho Center in Division Offices. — Each DepEd Division 
Office shall appoint a Trabaho Center Coordinator who shall:
(a) Coordinate with the LGU, PESO, the Local School Board (LSB), and Parent- 
Teacher Association (PTA) in the creation of the annual key career planning 
tool for their division, taking into consideration track preferences of students 
in their respective divisions and the industry most relevant to their area;


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(b) Monitor the planning, implementation, and evaluation of career
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facilitation programs and materials of Trabaho Centers in Schools;
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(c) Convene Career Advocates from the different Trabaho Centers under
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their respective divisions for the creation of modules or guides
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contextualized
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to cover their local industry;
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(d) Share best practices among divisions and other Trabaho Centers in the
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country in a modality that would be most efficient for the institution;
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(e) Train Career Advocates in the administration of testing and evaluation
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instruments for effective job selection, counseling, career guidance, mass
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motivation and values development activities to be implemented for the
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career
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Programs.
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(f) Utilize the DOLE s Skills Registry System (SRS) to manage the records of
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transactions in relation to career facilitation and relay information to Trabaho
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Centers in Schools;
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(g) Consolidate necessary information technology structures and systems to
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improve the collection, processing, analysis, report development and
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dissemination of youth career preferences and existing labor market
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information; and
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(h) Provide linkages to training providers needed by the schools in
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relation
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to local industry.
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Sec 7. Qualifications of Trabaho Center Career Advocates. —
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Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 27 of Republic Act No. 9258, otherwise
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known as the "Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004", career and employment
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advocates, who are not registered and licensed guidance counselors, shall be
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allowed to conduct career advocacy activities for students of the school where they
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are currently employed: Provided, That they undergo training programs related to
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career advocacy. Career advocates employed shall hold a nonteaching position and
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shall focus on activities for youth employability programs in coordination with the
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DOLE and other relevant agencies and partner institutions, both public and private.


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Sec 8. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Technical Vocational
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Institutions (JVIs) — Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Technicai
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Vocationai Institutions (TVIs) are encouraged to establish Trabaho Centers in their
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schools to prepare their students in choosing career tracks fit for their talents,
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skills, and preferences and in matching these to the needs of the current and
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future labor market, in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
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Sec 9. Information Dissemination. — The Philippine Information Agency, in
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coordination with the DepEd, DOLE, and the DILG, shall ensure proper and adequate
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information dissemination of the contents and benefits of this Act to pertinent
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entities in all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays.
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Sec 10. Appropriations. — The a mount necessary to carry out the provisions
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of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days after
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the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
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the concerned LGU, and such other relevant agencies, shall formulate and issue
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the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.
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Sec 12. Separability Clause. — If for any reason, any part or provision of
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this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions
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not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
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rules, and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect upon its approval fifteen (15)
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days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)
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newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,