1) '' V;t 
L
V.1 -ij
Sjfl/fflf" OfUli’ i:';;!!',!’
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. ^20
■22 JUL 12 P5:06
mTEivcua!1
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR RURAL EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted to a great economic loss not only in the 
Philippines, but in the whole world. The country logged record-high unemployment 
rate during the pandemic. Aside from the job problem, the inflation rate in the 
Philippines continues to soar, as high global oil prices seep through other goods mainly 
due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In light of these circumstances, this proposed bill seeks to provide temporary 
employment for qualified members of poor households in rural areas who are willing 
to do unskilled manual work for a period of time. The Local Social Welfare and 
Development Officers shall conduct an assessment of all poor, 
disadvantaged/displaced individuals, including seasonal workers who signify interest 
in undertaking temporary work.
As the whole country exert efforts for full economic recovery. It is imperative 
that all sectors in the country are well-taken care of, especially those who reside in 
rural areas where most are unemployed due to lack of job opportunities.


In view of the foregoing, approval of this biil is highiy recommended.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHEwLAWRENCE "BONG"T. GOr


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
72 JUL 12 P5 •■06
SENATE
420
RECB'jfcOS";-__ I
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR RURAL EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembied:
1 
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Rural Employment
2 
Assistance Program Act of2022."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the State to promote a
4 
just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the
5 
nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social
6 
services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality
7 
of life for all. Towards this end, the State shall provide Filipinos with opportunities for
8 
just and sufficient means of livelihood. The State shall likewise initiate meaningful
9 
employment assistance programs to qualified individuals of poor, disadvantaged or
10 
displaced households in rural areas duly identified by the appropriate national
11 
agencies.
12 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
13 
(a) Displaced worker refers to a worker in the formal and informal sectors who
14 
became unemployed, underemployed, or have lost livelihood as a result of
15 
closure of establishment, economic crisis, retrenchment, termination, natural
16 
disaster or calamities;
1


1 
(b) Poor refers to individuals and families whose income fall below the poverty
2 
threshold as defined by the government and/or cannot afford in a sustained
3 
manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, education,
4 
housing and other essential amenities of life, or those who have been identified
5 
as poor by the National Household Targeting System 
for Poverty Reduction
6 
(NHTS-PR);
7 
(c) Qualified individual refers to willing and able Filipino citizens who are at least
8 
fifteen (15) years of age; Provided, That, individuals between the ages fifteen
9 
(15) and eighteen (18) may only qualify by first obtaining consent from their
10 
parent/s and/or legal guardian, and can only be employed in non-hazardous
11 
work environments In accordance with the Labor Code;
12 
(d) Rural area refers to any barangay with at least fifty percent (50%) land devoted
13 
to agriculture, timberland, forest and/or pasture land as determined by the
14 
Comprehensive Land Use Plan 
of the concerned local government unit 
(LGU);
15 
and
16 
(e) Seasonal worker refers to a worker who performs work or service that is only
17 
for a specific period of time or season of the year.
18 
Sec. 4. Rural Employment Assistance Program. - There is hereby created a
19 
Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) under the Department of Labor and
20 
Employment (DOLE), which shall provide temporary employment to qualified
21 
individuals who are poor, disadvantaged, displaced or seasonal workers willing to work
22 
for a minimum of ten (10) days, but not more than ninety (90) days in a calendar year
23 
wherein the minimum and maximum period of engagement can cover a single activity
24 
or multiple activities spread out over the course of a calendar year.
25 
Individuals employed under the REAP are not subject to the terms and
26 
conditions of regular employment, and as such, shall not be deemed to have
27 
employer-employee relationship with the DOLE, or any agency or institution who
28 
utilizes their services with respect to the program.


1 
Sec. 5. Qualifications for Avaiiment of Employment Assistance. - The Local
2 
Social Welfare and Development Officers (LSWDOs), in close coordination with DOLE
3 
and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD), shall conduct an
4 
assessment and survey of all poor, disadvantaged or displaced individuals who signify
5 
interest in undertaking work under the REAP. The assessment shall also take into
6 
consideration the inherent knowledge, skills, capacities, and capabilities of potential
7 
qualified participants so as to properly determine the type and nature of projects that
8 
are most suited to them and their respective communities.
9 
The DOLE shall facilitate basic knowledge and skills orientation, including
10 
briefings on minimum public health standards and protocols In relation to the COVID-
11 
19 pandemic, and capacity-building trainings and seminars as deemed necessary
12 
towards project development for qualified participants. The 
LGUs and program
13 
partners concerned may make available for use any tools and equipment necessary
14 
for project development to the qualified individuals.
15 
Sec. 6. Types of Works and Activities under the Program. - Employment
16 
activities for this purpose shall be designed to mobilize eligible individuals, families,
17 
and communities to finish a project within a given time period. These projects may
18 
include, but are not limited to the following:
19 
(a) Development, rebuilding or rehabilitation of agri-based livelihood assets
20 
damaged, destroyed, or lost due to natural disasters, such as desilting of
21 
irrigation canals, development of paddy dikes, and rehabilitation of water
22 
impounding dams;
23 
(b) Development or rehabilitation of common service facilities, which are being
24 
shared and used by poor families as production or consolidation centers like
25 
post-harvest facilities, public markets, display centers, and fish ports;
26 
(c) Development or rehabilitation of physical assets to open up access to areas
27 
necessary to transport rural products, such as construction of farm-to-market
28 
roads and bridges;


1 
(d) Protection of natural and productive assets through mitigation and disaster risk
2 
reduction measures, such as mangrove planting and rehabilitation, tree
3 
planting, seedling preparation, re-forestation and similar activities;
4 
(e) Social community projects such as repair, maintenance, or improvement of
5 
common public facilities and infrastructure such as schools and health centers,
6 
debris clearing, declogging of canals, debris segregation and materials
7 
recovery, stockpiling and clearing, disinfection and sanitation of shared facilities
8 
and public spaces; and
9 
(f) Remote or online work projects such as digitization of records and collation of
10 
inquiries submitted to government agencies: Provided, That the DSWD, in
11 
coordination with the program partner, shall provide the tools and equipment
12 
necessary for remote or online work projects.
13 
The DOLE shall provide an updated list of projects that may be undertaken as
14 
well as the projects not covered under this Act. This list shall be readily made available
15 
to potentially qualified individuals who have expressed their desire to participate in
16 
the REAP.
17 
Sec. 7. Rate of Assistance. - Every position qualified under this Program shall
18 
be entitled to receive compensation for each day of work at the prevailing minimum
19 
wage set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)
20 
concerned. LGUs may also provide for additional allowances to the beneficiaries in
21 
order to cover for other expenses such as transportation and food.
22 
Sec. 8. Micro-insurance Benefits. - Qualified individuals are granted the option
23 
to access micro-insurance as a form of social security in the event of accidental death
24 
or dismemberment, medical reimbursement, and bereavement assistance at a
25 
socialized cost by mandating the DOLE to provide liaison services necessary to enable
26 
qualified individuals access to these social serviced. LGUs may also provide additional
27 
allowance to participants to cover insurance costs.
28 
Sec. 9. Appropriations. - Initial funding for the implementation of this Act shall
29 
be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DOLE. Thereafter, the
4


1 
amount of necessary for its continued implementation shall be included In the annual
2 
General Appropriations Act.
3 
Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
4 
the approval of this Act, the DOLE, in consultation with relevant agencies, shall issue
5 
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
6 
Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
7 
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
8 
not affected thereby shall remain In full force and effect.
9 
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
10 
orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
11 
which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby
12 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
13 
Sec. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
14 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,