EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
i0Uuf at li)( fercr«’tai)/
20 MAY FA PI 34
SENATE
S. B. No. 14R.9
RECEIVED 6V;
Introduced by SENATOR SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
SUPPORTING THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL CAREERS IN 
THE PHILIPPINES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
New technologies have brought about non-traditional ways of earning a living. 
This includes online freelancing, which in recent years has grown to what some call 
a full-fledged "gig economy." In essence, the gig economy is composed of short­
term freelance workers with no geographical boundaries in proximity to those 
employing them.1 It is powered by social media, global marketplaces and online 
payment platforms2 which jointly provide freelance workers the flexibility to chart 
their own career paths.
In recent years, online freelancing has grown significantly here the 
Philippines. In Paypal's 2018 Global Freelancer Insights Report, among the 22 
countries included and analyzed, the Philippines has one of the highest freelancers 
per capita, at around two percent or roughly 1.5 to 2 million Filipinos, engaged in 
freelance work.3 In 2019, Forbes4 listed the Philippines in 6th place, for fastest 
growing market for freelancers, recording a 35% income growth from the previous 
year.
1 https://www.forbes.eom/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/03/27/why-the-gig-economy-will-drive-the-future-of- 
employment/#6083cae74f52
2 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/02/12/the-future-of-work-is-here-freelance-economy-offers-unparalleled- 
opportunity-for-growth-moves-to-close-the-gender-pay-gap/
3 https://www.philstar.eom/the-freeman/cebu-business/2019/03/22/1903573/gig-economy-and-you
4 https://www.forbes.com/sites/elainepofeldt/2019/08/18/the-top-10-fastest-growing-freelance-markets-in-the- 
world/#628a5823733b


Notably, the Philippine government has launched programs such as the 
DigitalJobsPH Technical Training project of the Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT) which aims to help people find work as digital 
entrepreneurs and freelancers in the information and communications technology 
(ICT) field. However, much may still be done to for online freelancing to further 
flourish as a viable source of livelihood in the Philippines. Learnings from the current 
COVID-19 pandemic show us the potentials in the freelance economy such as 
workplace flexibility while at the same time highlighting the disadvantages faced by 
those engaged full-time in freelance work such as the lack of basic social protections 
and safety nets since they are not part of the formal economy.
With a growing online freelance industry and with the new normal ushered in 
by the COVID-19 pandemic, it now behooves the government to establish a legal 
framework covering online freelancing that will—map out strategies to promote and 
strengthen digital careers; institutionalize employment standards for digital career 
workers; and enhance the competitiveness of our digital workers through access to 
necessary trainings, skills development and scholarship programs.
Just like its counterpart measure the proposed "National Digital 
Transformation" Act, this measure falls under our broad "Tatak Pinoy" 
industrialization campaign and policy, where Filipino enterprises, entrepreneurs and 
professionals are enabled and empowered to move up the value chain, produce 
quality goods and services, export more of their offerings, and ultimately innovate 
on their endeavors.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA
If


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
'^cnat'
o( t|)r fi>raf t«u>
20 MAY
SENATE
B. No. 1 4R9
Introduced by SENATOR SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
SUPPORTING THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL CAREERS IN 
THE PHILIPPINES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
1 
ARTICLE I
2 
STATE POLICIES AND BASIC PRINCIPLES
3 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Digital
4 
Careers Act".
5 
SEC. 2. Declaration of State Policy. - The State, recognizing of the impact of
6 
the Fourth Industrial Revolution to employment and nature of jobs, shall encourage
7 
the development of digital careers across all sectors of society. In furtherance
8 
thereof, the State shall ensure that Filipino workers remain competitive and possess
9 
skills and competencies at par with global standards in the digital economy. To this
10 
end, the State shall, promote the skilling, upskilling, and re-skilling of the Filipino
11 
workforce to support the impact of digital transformation across all industries and
12 
shall create and adopt standards for digital careers.
13 
ARTICLE II
14 
DEFINITION OF TERMS
15 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms as used in this Act shall
16 
mean:
17 
(a) "21st century skiUd' refer to skills that are required by new jobs, such as
18 
critical thinking, problem solving, good communication, collaboration.


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information and technology literacy, flexibility and adaptability, and 
innovativeness and creativity;
(b) "Advanced skills" refer to those needed by specialists in ICT professions, 
such as computer programming and network management;
(c) "Co-working agency" refers to a company that provides facilities, 
accounts, and training for several independent contractors and engages 
the latter to provide services to one or several companies but on a 
temporary basis;
(d) "Digital career worker, freelancer, and freelance worker" refers to a 
person who is self-employed and is not necessarily committed to a 
particular employer long-term. Freelance workers are sometimes 
represented by a company or a temporary agency that reseils freelance 
labor to clients; others work independently or use professional 
associations or websites to get work;
(e) "Digital content'refers to any type of content that exists in the form of 
digitai data that are encoded in a machine-readable format, and can be 
created, viewed, distributed, modified and stored using computers and 
digital technologies, e.g., the internet. The content can be either free or 
paid content such as web pages and websites, social media, data and 
databases, digital audio, such as mp3s, and e-books, digital imagery, 
digital video, video games, computer programs and software;
(f) "Digital entrepreneurship"refers to combining traditional entrepreneurship 
with new digital technologies, thus creating digital enterprises which are 
characterized by a high intensity of utilization of novel digital technologies, 
particularly social media, big data analytics, mobile and cloud solutions to 
improve business operations, invent new business models, sharpen 
business intelligence, and engage with customers and stakeholders;
(g) "Digital skills"refer to a range of abilities, from basic to more advanced, 
encompassing a combination of behaviors, expertise, know-how, work 
habits, character traits, dispositions, and critical understanding on the use 
of digital devices, communication applications, and networks to access and 
manage information;


1 
(h) "Digital technology" refers to any product that can be used to create,
2 
view, distribute, modify, store, retrieve, transmit, and receive information
3 
electronically in a digital form such as personal computers and devices like
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desktop, laptop, netbook, tablet computer, smart phones, PDA with mobile
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phone facilities, games consoles, media players, e-book readers, as well as
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digital television, and robots;
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(i) "Innovation" refers to the creation of new ideas using new or existing
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technologies that results in the development of new or improved products,
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processes, or services, which are then spread or transferred across 
the
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market;
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0) "Intermediate skills" refer to usage of digital technologies in a more
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meaningful and beneficial ways, including the ability to critically evaluate
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technology or create content;
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(k) "Social inclusion" refers to the process of improving the terms for
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individuals and groups to take part in society;
16 
ARTICLE III
17 
DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES
18 
SEC. 4. Development of Digital Careers. - In promoting careers and jobs that
19 
are enabled and supported by the Internet, information and communications
20 
technology (ICT), digital technology and tools, and systems that allow a person to
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interact directly with companies and service users and end-users through remote
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and virtual services and systems, the State shall:
23 
(a) Ensure and take pro-active measures to improve the digital competence of
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all citizens of working age and equip them with basic, intermediate and
25 
advanced digital skills including digital entrepreneurship skills in order to
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gain from the benefits of the growing number of jobs and opportunities
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that are enabled by ICT, Internet and digital communications, digital
28 
technologies and digital tools;
29 
(b) Ensure that citizens of working age are equipped with information and
30 
data literacy, communication and collaboration skills using digital
31 
technologies, digital content creation skills, virtual safety and security
32 
skills, and 21st century skills required for digital jobs and careers;


1 
(c) Ensure adequate protection and support for digital career workers,
2 
freelancers, and freelance workers, for the continuous improvement of
3 
their skills to effectively keep up with global standards; and
4 
(d) Provide support to digital career workers, freelancers, and freelance
5 
workers in terms of co-working or shared service facilities, free trainings,
6 
and exposure programs to improve their skills and access to different
7 
government programs such as loan facilities for them to secure
8 
equipment, as may be allowed by law, under existing and/or future
9 
programs by relevant government agencies.
10 
SEC. 5. Programs on Digital Careers. - The Department of Information and
11 
Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Education (DepEd), in
12 
collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical
13 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), shall immediately create,
14 
design, and develop programs to ensure access to trainings, market, and other
15 
forms of support or innovation strategies for digital careers.
16 
SEC. 6. Standards for Digital Career Workers. - The Department of Labor and
17 
Employment (DOLE) together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in
18 
consultation with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), DICT, Department of
19 
Interior and Local Government (DILG), DepEd, CHED, and TESDA shall ensure:
20 
(a) Compliance with the prescribed minimum wage for digital career workers
21 
freelancers, or freelance workers;
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(b) Adoption of simple process for the registration of digital career workers,
23 
freelancers, or freelance workers in the local government level;
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(c) Adoption of simple process for filing of complaints by digital career workers,
25 
freelancers, or freelance workers;
26 
(d) Setting up of minimum requirements for persons to be qualified as digital
27 
career workers in the form of industry-centric certifications or trainings;
28 
and
29 
(e) Adoption of simple process and mechanisms for digital career workers,
30 
freelancers or freelance workers in filing taxes and other fees due 
to the
31 
government.


1 
SEC. 7. Incentives. - A digital worker, freelancer or freelance worker shall be
2 
entitled to the following incentives, subject to guidelines issued by the DICT, DTI,
3 
DOLE, TESDA and other concerned agencies:
4 
(a) Full or partial scholarships for necessary certification trainings, both local
5 
and abroad, on different levels of digital skills and knowledge;
6 
(b) Full or partial subsidy for the use of facilities, office space, equipment,
7 
and/or services provided by government or private enterprises or
8 
institutions;
9 
(c) Grants-in-aid for the acquisition of equipment including but not limited to
10 
computers, hardware and software programs;
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(d)Such other incentives that may be provided to digital workers, freelancers
12 
or freelance workers in the future.
13 
In addition to the foregoing incentives, qualified digital workers, freelancers
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or freelance workers shall be entitled to avail of government support under existing
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programs for startups, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and such
16 
other programs as may be applicable
17 
SEC. 8. Role of the Local Government Units. - All local government units shall
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create local policies to support the growth and development of digital careers in their
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respective communities. The DILG shall ensure compliance of this section.
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SEC. 9. E-Readiness of Local Government Units. - The DICT, the Department
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of Budget Management (DBM), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
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and other relevant departments and agencies shall ensure universal access to the
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high-speed, quality, and affordable Internet by prioritizing and facilitating the
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development of connectivity infrastructures in the localities across the country. The
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DILG and DICT shall jointly assess the e-Readiness of all municipalities, cities,
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provinces, and regions to ensure a thriving digital careers ecosystem.
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ARTICLE IV
28 
TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
29 
SEC. 10. Trainings, Skills Development, and Scholarships. - The DICT in
30 
collaboration with DOLE, DTI, DepEd, CHED, and TESDA shall prioritize the creation
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of digital trainings, including, but not limited to:
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(a) Web development and designing;


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(b) Online teaching and tutoring;
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(c) Content creation (writing and copywriting and others);
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(d) Digital marketing (e-Commerce, sales and marketing);
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(e) Creative design, graphic designing, 3D modelling and CAD, game
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development, 
logo design and illustration, and audio and video
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production;
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(f) Mobile app development;
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(g) Search engine optimization;
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(h) Virtual assistance (administrative support or assistance);
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(i) Branding and public relations, social media coordinator and community
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management;
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(j) Web research, business intelligence and data analytics;
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(k) Transcription and data entry jobs article and blog writing;
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(I) Customer service and technical support;
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(m) Human resource management and systems; and
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(n) Architecture services and other professional services through the Internet.
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The TESDA shall give updates to all appropriate government agencies and
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LGUs, especially its local investment council for purposes for job creation, with the
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number of trainees and their respective courses per city or municipality. TESDA shall
20 
also allocate scholarships to various LGUs in accordance with an annual job
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generation plan supported local industry in the locality and validated by market or
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business research.
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SEC. 11. Skills Map. - In order to ensure equal access to training
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opportunities, TESDA shall create a skills map geared towards identifying the sectors
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in the community that can be effectively and positively benefited by digital careers
26 
training.
27 
SEC. 12. Digital Skills Training. - The DICT shall allocate an appropriate
28 
amount of their annual budget to digital skills training, and other programs to skill,
29 
upskill and re-skill targeted set of citizens in order to equip them with necessary
30 
high-level digital skills. The DICT and TESDA shall ensure that no duplication of
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trainings for the same skill 
level will occur. A qualified citizen is not, however.


1 
prohibited from avaiiing of training from the two agencies: Provided, That the
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trainings are different in terms of ievei or skiii.
3 
ARTICLE V
4 
DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS
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SEC. 13. Digital Careers Week. - The DICT shaii designate a Digitai Careers
6 
Week every year to promote awareness about the job opportunities in the Digitai
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Age.
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ARTICLE VI
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SUPPORT ECOSYSTEM
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SEC. 14. Digital Libraries and Learning Hubs. - The DICT and the Nationai
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Library of the Phiiippines shaii promote the roie of iibraries in improving digitai
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inciusion and transform these iibraries as providers of digitai access, training, and
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support for digitai career workers, freeiancers, and freeiance workers.
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SEC. 15. Co-Working Agencies or Facilities. - Quaiified companies may avaii
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of exemption from specific provisions of the Labor Code and other pertinent iaw with
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respect to digital career workers, freelancers, and freelance workers who are directly
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working in their facilities: Provided, That these workers are covered by independent
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contractor agreements, as defined under pertinent laws.
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ARTICLE VII
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IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES
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SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from
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the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE and the DICT shall promulgate the necessary
23 
rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.
24 
ARTICLE VIII
25 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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SEC. 17. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of
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the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for the
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year following the approval of this Act.
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SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders and
30 
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
31 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


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SEC. 19. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
2 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
3 
provisions hereof.
4 
SEC. 20. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
5 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
8