Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.9459

Introduced by Hon. Deogracias Victor ‘DV’ B. Savellano

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution declares that, “ The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order
that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty
through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising
standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.” (Article II, Section 9)

Another provision provides that “ The Congress shall give highest priority to the
enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all people to human dignity, reduce
social, economic and political inequalities...” (Article XIII, Section 1) and that “The promotion
of social justice shall include the commitment to create economic opportunities based on
freedom and self-reliance.” (Article XIII, Section 2).

In view of the foregoing mandates, there is a need to facilitate the provision of adequate
social and economic infrastructure services and reduce poverty and unemployment particularly
in the Province of Ilocos Sur, which lacks appropriate training institutions that will enable its
residents to become productive partners in community and nation building. With this in mind,
this measure seeks to alleviate poverty in the province, through the establishment of a Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center to be
located in the Municipality of San Ildefonso for the poor residents thereby enabling them to
become economically productive and self-reliant.”

Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

HON. DEOGRACIAS yiCTOR ‘DV’ B. SAVELLANO
Ist Legislatiye District, Hocos Sur


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5459

Introduced by Honorable Deogracias Victor ‘DV’ B. Savellano

AN ACT

ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER TO BE LOCATED
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN ILDEFONSO, ILOCOS SUR 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 “ Ilocos Sur TESDA Training
and Assessment Center Act.”

SECTION 2. Establishment. There is hereby established a Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the Municipality of
San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur, under the supervision of the TESDA, to be known as the Ilocos Sur
TESDA Training and Assessment Center.

SECTION 3. General Mandate ~ The llocos Sur TESDA Training and Assessment
Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide technical-vocational training
and skills development programs to students and residents from low-income families and out-of-
school youths, including college dropouts and persons with disabilities in the Province of locos
Sur, geared towards the acquisition of practical livelihood, employable skills, gainful
employment, and entrepreneurship.

The Center shall help train local residents to become productive, self-reliant and globally
competitive middle to high-level skilled labor force to hasten the social and economic
development of these areas, in particular, and to meet the manpower needs of both local and
international labor markets, in general.


The Center shall consider in the design of relevant technical-vocational training
programs to be offered thereat a competency assessment of the socio-economic profile,
employment conditions and opportunities, business climate, market and industry potentials,
available resources, presence of support structures, including the literacy level and skills
readiness, and the overall development within the host areas and adjacent communities within
the operational radius of the Center established herein. The Center shall also consider the
relevant skills trade competencies, craftsmanship training programs, and entrepreneurship
activities needed to deliver the effective employment and development interventions required to
make these areas as human resource and productivity hubs.

The Center shall also serve as TESDA-accredited assessment centers for acquired
competencies in technical-vocational skills. Preference in admission shall be given to the most
disadvantaged citizens, including persons with disabilities, and to the most economically
depressed areas in Ilocos Sur with the highest percentage of disadvantaged and indigent citizens.

The Center shall, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the
TESDA, offer relevant teachers’ training assistance and curriculum design to the secondary
schools providing the technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) track under the K to 12 Program of
the DepEd.

To further expand the scope of its mandate, the Center shall venture jointly with the
private sector and other stakeholders in developing these programs so as to completely eradicate
joblessness in the Province of Ilocos Sur.

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

The Center may establish research and technology hubs, technology development farms,
mobile training programs, and satellite or extension training centers in priority areas throughout
the Province of Ilocos Sur within the service radius of the Center to strengthen linkages among
the industry, the academe and the Center.

To address the development and manpower needs of the Province of Ilocos Sur, the
Center shall offer the following TESDA-registered technical-vocational training programs with
competencies assessment leading to National Certification Levels I-III:


(a) Skills training in industrial technology and hard trade 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 as
farming-fishing operations technology, backyard farming and home-based
aquaculture and propagation innovation, mechanized farm and fishing tools and
equipment operation, agri-business, agri-aqua trade technology and innovations,
and relevant farmers and fisherfolks’ continuing training for increased productivity
and entrepreneurship;

(c) Social communication skills development, language proficiency courses in English
and other languages for business process outsourcing employment such as call
centers and overseas job placement;

(d) Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and small-
scale entrepreneurship, including practical skills education in crafts and arts,
workmanship and designing, high-spread sewing, dressmaking and tailoring,
horticulture, livestock raising and breeding; food processing technology, home
technology, culinary arts and commercial cooking, cosmetology, health and
wellness training:

(e) 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, online hone-based business
operation and social media business marketing;

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

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

(h) Seminars in personality development, career counseling and job placement, and
work ethics and values; and

(i) Other preferred priority skills and trade training that may be utilized by the people
of Ilocos Sur to enhance their capacities for practical livelihood, gainful
employment, and entrepreneurial activities

SECTION 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. — The provisions of this Act
notwithstanding, the Ilocos Sur TESDA Training and Assessment 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 individually and satisfactorily complied with the minimum requirements for quality
standards prescribed by the TESDA governing the Following competency assessment:


(a) Standard procedures and guidelines (SPGs) for the establishment and operation of
a TESDA-accredited training and assessment center,

(b) Operational sustainability of the Center established herein, such as licensed
faculty-trainers and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities, and
instructional materials;

(c) Sustainable funding source and allocation for the budgetary requirement of the
Center herein established;

(d) Assurance that the training programs offered are fully aligned with the minimum
standards of competency-based quality technical-vocational skills technology and
the needs of the host site and adjacent localities served in the context of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Philippine Qualifications
Framework (PQF) for technical-vocational education; and

(e) Compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and standards, as may be
necessary and applicable.

SECTION 6. Administration. — The Center shall be headed by a Technical-Vocational
Administrator, under the supervision of the TESDA, who shall render full-time services and be
responsible for the administration and operation of the Center.

The Technical-Vocational Administrator of the Center shall be appointed by the TESDA.
Director General in accordance with Civil Service Commission rules and regulations and the
qualification requirements for such office

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

SECTION 7. Appropriations. ~ The Director General of the TESDA shall include in the
Authority’s program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in
the Appropriations Act. The LGUs concemed, in consultation with the 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.

SECTION 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 DOST, the
NEDA, Department of Management and Budget (DMB), the DILG, the concerned LGU, and
such other relevant agencies and industry-business partners of the host locality shall prepare and
issue the necessary regulations for the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 9. 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 effect.


SECTION 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.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall become effective fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,