NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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of tlje i-ftiU/
23 may 10 P4 -23
SENATE 
S. NO. 2178
Rl'CEIVuD BV
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 
AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF DA PA, SIARGAO ISLAND, PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL 
NORTE, TO BE KNOWN AS THE SIARGAO TESDA TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT CENTER, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The island of Siargao is known for its world-class surf spots, sparkling white 
sand islets, turquoise tide pools, and mangrove forest reserves. With the expansion of 
its local tourism, it is Imperative that the local community be given the opportunity to
develop and improve their quality of life through provision of technical educational and 
skills development training.
Republic Act No. 7796, or otherwise known as the Technical Education and 
Skills Development Act was signed into law in 1994. It alms to strengthen the quality 
of the country's technical education and skills development programs in order to 
achieve world-class competence of our country's workforce. The purpose of this bill is 
to establish a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training 
and Assessment Center in the Municipality of Dapa, Province of Surigao del Norte in 
order to address the needs of their constituents. Hence, the establishment of the 
training center will not only provide technical and vocational skills training and


development programs to poor families but aiso other members of various sectors 
such as out of school children and youth and persons with disabilities.
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly
sought.


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SEN 
S. No.
23 HAY 10 P4:23
RKCEiVED BV
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 
AUTHORITY (TESDA) TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF DAPA, SIARGAO ISLAND, PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL 
NORTE, TO BE KNOWN AS THE SIARGAO TESDA TRAINING AND 
ASSESSMENT CENTER, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
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 "Siargao TESDA Training
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and Assessment Center Act".
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Sec.2. Establishment. - There is hereby established a Technical Education and
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Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training and Assessment Center in the
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Municipality of Dapa, Siargao Island, Province of Surigao del Norte, under the
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supervision of TESDA, to be known as the Siargao TESDA Training and Assessment
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Center. It shall be established in a highly accessible location In the Municipality of
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Dapa, Siargao Island, Province of Surigao del Norte, pursuant to the purposes of this
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Act and to the mutual agreement of TESDA and the concerned local government units
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(LGUs).
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Sec.3. General Mandate. - The Siargao TESDA Training and Assessment
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Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide technical-
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vocational education and training (TVET) programs to students, local residents from


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low-income families, and out-of-school youths, Including persons with disabilities and 
indigenous peoples, in the Municipality of Dapa, Siargao Island and neighboring 
localities in the Province of Surigao del Norte, to help them become productive, self- 
reliant and globally competitive labor assets.
The Center shall provide effective employment interventions through training 
programs on relevant skills trade competencies, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship 
activities needed to deliver the effective employment interventions that will help 
hasten the development of the host area and adjacent localities in the Province of 
Surigao del Norte into human resource and productivity hubs.
The Center shall serve as TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for acquired 
competencies In TVET programs in the Municipality of Dapa, Siargao Island, and 
adjacent localities in the Province of Surigao del Norte. It shall also provide teachers' 
training and curriculum design assistance to the secondary schools offering the 
technical-vocational livelihood track under the K to 12 Program, in coordination with 
the Department of Education (DepEd) and the TESDA.
Sec. 4. Training Programs. - The Center shall offer short-term certificate 
courses and modular trainings In preferred technical-vocational skills and trades 
specialization. To this end, the Department of Labor and Emolovment fDOLEj 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology 
(DOSTO, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local 
Government (DILG), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), business- 
industry partners, and other relevant agencies and instrumentalities, both local and 
international, shall provide the necessary assistance to enable the Center to develop 
skilled manpower to achieve a robust inclusive economy in the host area and its 
adjacent localities.
The Center may establish research and technology hubs, technology 
development farms, satellite or extension training centers, and promote mobile 
training programs to strengthen linkages among the industry partners, the academe, 
and the Center geared towards the acquisition of practical livelihood, employable skills, 
gainful employment, and entrepreneurship In priority areas in the Municipality of Dapa, 
Siargao Island and adjacent localities In the Province of Surigao del Norte.


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The Center shall offer the following TVET programs with competencies
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assessment leading to National Certification Levels Mil:
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(a) Skills training in industrial technology and hard trades such as metal and
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steelwork, machine fabrication and operation, heavy equipment operation, automotive
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mechanic, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronics, and operation of power tools
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and equipment for both medium skills grade and industrial purposes;
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(b) Agriculture and aquaculture-related trainings and skills development In such
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areas as farming technology, fishing operations technology, backyard farming and
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home-based aquaculture and the propagation innovations, mechanized farm, fishing
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tools and equipment operation, agribusiness, agri-aqua trade technology and
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innovations, and relevant farmers and fisherfolk's trainings for Increased productivity
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and entrepreneurship;
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(c) Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and
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small-scale entrepreneurship, including practical skills education in arts and crafts,
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workmanship and design, high-speed sewing, dressmaking and tailoring, horticulture,
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livestock raising and breeding, food processing technology, home technology, culinary
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arts and commercial cooking, cosmetology, and health and wellness training;
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(d) Basic business literacy training in financial management, marketing,
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practical accountancy, bookkeeping, office procedures, business processes and
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application procedures including registration, licensing, documentation, business
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patent and intellectual property regulation, business financing and investment
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opportunities sourcing, import-export accreditation, online home-based business
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operation, and use of social media business marketing;
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(e) Technical-vocational occupation and trades skills such as carpentry,
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masonry, plumbing, welding, practical electricity and installation, automotive
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servicing, electronics servicing, personal computer servicing, and such other relevant
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practical skills courses;
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(f) Computer literacy and information technology-related skills, digital
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technology, web design, animation, photoshop/online photography, computer design,
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and advertising;


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(g) Social communication skills and language proficiency courses in English and
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other languages for business process outsourcing employment and overseas job
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placement;
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(h) Seminars on personality development, career counseling, job placement,
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and work ethic and values; and
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(i) Other preferred skills and trades training that may be needed by the people
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of the Municipality of Dapa, Siargao Island, and of the other localities in the Province
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of Surigao del Norte to enhance their capacities for practical livelihood, gainful
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employment, and entrepreneurial activities.
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Sec.5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. - The provisions of this Act
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notwithstanding, the Center shall become operational only upon the determination
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and certification by TESDA, through the issuance of a formal recommendation and
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certificate of compliance, that the Center has satisfactorily complied with the minimum
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quality standards prescribed by TESDA governing the following:
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(a) Standard Procedures and Guidelines (SPGs) for the establishment and
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operation of a TESDA Center;
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(b) Operational sustainability of the Center, in terms of licensed faculty-trainers
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and personnel, equipment, training and laboratory facilities, instructional materials,
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and other standard requirements of a TESDA Center;
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(c) Sustainable funding source and allocation of the budgetary requirement;
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(d) Assurance that the training programs offered are fully aligned with the
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minimum standards of competency-based quality technical-vocational skills
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technology and the needs of the host area and adjacent communities served within
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the context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Integration and the
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Philippine Qualifications Framework for TVET; and
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(e) Compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and standards, as may
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be necessary and applicable in establishing a TESDA Center.
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Sec. 6. Administration. - The Center shall be headed by a Technical-Vocational.
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Administrator who shall be under the supervision of the TESDA, render full-time
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service and be responsible for its administration and operation. The Technical-
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Vocational Administrator shall be appointed by the TESDA Director General in


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accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission and the
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qualification requirements for such office.
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The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall enter into agreements with locally-
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based private and public counterpart agencies or instrumentalities and persons,
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subject to the approval of the TESDA Director General, for such assistance as may be
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necessary to effectively implement this Act.
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Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The TESDA Director General shall include in the
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Authority's program the operation of the Center, the funding of which shall be included
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in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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The LGUs concerned, in consultation with TESDA, shall set aside from any
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available local revenue an amount deemed appropriate as annual counterpart fund to
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support the operation of the Center herein established.
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Sec. 8. Impiementing Rules and Reguiations. - Within ninety (90) days after
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the approval of this Act, the TESDA shall, in coordination with the DOLE, DTI, DOST,
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DA, Department of Budget and Management, DILG, NEDA, concerned LGUs, and such
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other relevant agencies and industry-business partners of the host locality, prepare
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and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
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Act.
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Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision
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of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not
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affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of Instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this
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Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause.-J^\s Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
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its complete publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,