Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

13" Congress
First Regular Session

375

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Roseller L. Barinaga

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Unemployment has long been a trademark of our economy. It means that
potentially productive workers are not being utilized, preventing the economy from
producing as much as it might. Such a’situation is what breeds the persistent poverty we
are experiencing today. . .

Due to this difficult economic situation, an increasing number of young people
are not able to pursue higher education. In a vicious cycle, they then join the ranks of
millions of Filipinos who are presently unemployed.

Unemployment is most felt in the countryside. Although most young people of
working age are eager to work for their daily subsistence, there is a lack of programs and
facilities that could equip them with the right training and skills for employment.

As opportunities for employment continue to dwindle, it is anticipated that this
predicament will continue and remain an urgent concern in the coming years. In order to
promote full employment and give optimum opportunity to all, there is a need to adopt
measures to ensure that Filipinos are made competitive in. terms of labor and the goods
that they produce locally,

To this end, this bill seeks to bring education to the grassroots level and promote
employment opportunities by creating training, livelihood, and employment centers in
cities and selected municipalities nationwide. The said centers will act as venues for
skills development, job assistance and placement, employment generation, and
acquisition of technology and market information

In facing the challenges of this “technological era,” the quality of a country’s
labor force and the size of its technical manpower stock are essential. These'are skills that


cannot be amply provided by the educational system. Thus, with the creation of the
training, livelihood, and employment centers, it is envisioned that a productive and
competitive manpower that has the training and skills needed to lead us towards
sustainable economic growth and industrialization can be developed.

Itis to this end that passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

ROSELLER L. BARINA’


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

13" Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 375

Introduced by Representative Roseller L. Barinaga

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF TRAINING, LIVELIHOOD, AND
EMPLOYMENT CENTERS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES NATIONWIDE,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote full
employment and to give optimum opportunity to all. It is also the mandate of the State to
adopt measures to ensure that Filipinos are made competitive in terms of labor and the
goods they produce locally. Towards this end, the State shall institute programs and
install appropriate mechanisms to encourage livelihood and entrepreneurial development
and promote full employment to all qualified citizens.

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms
shall mean:

a) Center refers to a physical structure or a mechanism, or both, which shall
serve as a venue for training, livelihood, and employment activities and assistance;

b) Training refers to any activity that imparts skills and knowledge, with the
objective of preparing individuals for future employment or business undertaking;

©) __ Livelihood refers to a backyard, cottage industry, or micro-enterprise that
will generate self-employment and business opportunities; and

d.) Employment refers to assistance in terms of job opportunities, hiring, and
job placement services.

SEC. 3. Creation/Strengthening of Training, Livelihood, and Employment
Centers, - There shall be created in cities and selected municipalities training, livelihood,


and employment centers, hereinafter referred to as “centers,” as venues for skills
development, job assistance and placement, employment generation, and acquisition of
technology and market information: Provided, That those with existing training,
livelihood, and/or employment centers shall only be entitled to upgrading, strengthening,
and/or consolidation, whichever is feasible: Provided further, That at least one center
shall be established in every congressional district

SEC. 4. Programs and Services of the Center. - The training, livelihood and
employment center shall provide the following services to the public:

a) Integrated skills training, livelihood and employment services offered by
various government agencies, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
and the academe;

b) Skills and business management training programs to prepare local
residents for employment and/or entrepreneurship;

©) Technical assistance in all aspects of livelihood and enterprise
development such as production, marketing, finance, organization and management,

4) Placement services for all types of labor, whether in the public or
the private sector, domestic or foreign; and

€) Information dissemination of employment opportunities and labor
requirement trends, local or abroad.

SEC. 5. Administration of the Center, - The center shall be financed, managed
and sustained by the respective city or municipal government in coordination with the
congressional district office..

SEC. 6. National Coordinating Body. - To provide planning and policy direction
at the national level, there is hereby created a Training and Employment Planning and
Coordinating Committee (TEPCC) to be chaired by the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE). The members of the committee are: Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of
Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment : and...Natural Resources (DENR),
Department of Finance (DOF), Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC),
League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), League of Municipalities of the Philippines
(LMP), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and industry or trade
associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in training, livelihood,
and/or employment placement, to be appointed by the President of the Philippines.

The amount of Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the
initial year of operation of the Training and Employment Planning and Coordinating


Committee (TEPCC). Thereafter, the sum necessary for the continued operation of the
TEPCC shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. Functions of the TEPCC. - The TEPCC shall be responsible for the
following:

a) Conduct of a national area-based mapping of training, livelihoad and/or
employment centers to determine which areas need priority establishments and which
existing centers need strengthening, upgrading, or consolidating, based on needs analysis;

b) Formulation of policy guidelines for the creation, upgrading or
strengthening of the centers;

c) Development of integrated programs to support the operations and
services of the centers; and

d) Monitoring and evaluation.

SEC. 8. Training and Employment Center Fund. ~ There is, hereby, created a
Training and Employment Center Fund (TEC Fund) amounting to Four Hundred Million
Pesos (P400,000,000.00), which shall be included in the General Appropriations Act and
which shall be made available to local government units (LGUs) for the creation,
upgrading or strengthening of the centers; Provided, That a grant package to be availed
of by the city or municipality shall not exceed One Million Pesos (P1,000.000.00). The
fund, which shall be in a form of grant, shall be administered by the Department of
Finance through the Municipal Development Fund. A corresponding local government
(LGU) counterpart shall be required in order to avail of the grant package.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Labor and
Employment, in coordination with the other government agencies and private
organizations represented in the TEPCC, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to
effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause.- If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 11, Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and
regulations or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.