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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. _7342

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE DIVINA GRACE C. YU

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish Zamboanga del Sur Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) Provincial Training and Assessment Center in the
Municipality of Labangan, Province of Zamboanga del Sur.

Republic Act No. 7796, otherwise known as the Technical Education and Skills
Development Act of 1994 provides that “It is the declared policy of the State to provide
relevant, accessible, high quality and efficient technical education and skills
development in support of the development of high quality Filipino middle-level
manpower responsive to and in accordance with Philippine development goals and
priorities.

The establishment of accessible, high quality, and efficient technical education and
skills development centers in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur shall be beneficial to
Grade 11 and 12 students, out of school youth, high school students and graduates,
unemployed and underemployed adults, workers in the informal sector, persons with
disabilities and ethnic indigenous people and residents from low-income families.

With the desire to truly materialize the intention of this bill, the Local Government
Unit of the Municipality of Labangan, Province of Zamboanga del Sur has already
donated a land with an area of 3000 square meters intended for the establishment of
the site.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

DIVINA GRACE C. YU


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. _7342

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE DIVINA GRACE C. YU

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR TECHNICAL
EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA)
PROVINCIAL TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTER TO BE LOCATED
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LABANGAN, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA
DEL SUR, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Zamboanga del Sur TESDA
Provincial Training and Assessment Center Act”.

SECTION 2. Establishment. There is hereby established Zamboanga del Sur
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Provinical Training
and Assesment Center to be located in the Municipality of Labangan, Province of
Zamboanga del Sur.

SECTION 3. General Mandate. The Zamboanga del Sur TESDA Provincial Training
and Assessment Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall primarily provide
relevant and quality technical-vocational education and training (TVET), including
practical short-term specialty courses and one (1) year to three- year TESDA-
registered technical-vocational skills programs and certificate courses, to out-of-
school youth, high school students and graduates, unemployed and underemployed
adults, other workers, other workers in the informal sector and residents from low-
income families, as well as persons with disabilities in the Province of Zamboanga del
Sur , to help them become self-reliant and globally competitive labor assets. The
Center shall also aim to meet the maximum competency requirement under Level V of
the Philippines Qualifications Framework (PQF), as institutionalized by Republic Act
No 10968 (PQF Act), which is the Diploma Level in technical-vocational education.

The Center shall help train local residents in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur
within the operational radius of the Center to be developed into globally competitive
middle to high-level skilled labor force to meet the manpower placement demands of
both local and international labor markets, as well as hasten the social and economic


development of the Province of Zamboanga del Sur. The Center shall consider in the
design of relevant technical-vocational training programs to be offered therein, The
preferred skills categories according to identified development targets, thereby
propelling the area in becoming a skilled human resource and economic productivity
hub.

The Center shall also serve as TESDA-accredited Assessment Center for
acquired competencies in technical-vocational skills in the entire Province of
Zamboanga del Sur.

As deemed necessary and practicable, in coordination with the Department of
Education (DepEd) and TESDA, the Center shall render relevant teachers’ trainings
assistance and curriculum design to the secondary schools offering technical-vocation
livelihood (TVL) track under the K to 12 Program of the DepEd in the communities
and areas in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur.

SECTION 4. Curriculum Offerings/Training Programs- The Center, in consultation
with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTD, the Department of Agriculture (DA), 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, shall offer diverse short-term certificate courses and modular trainings
in relevant technical-vocational skills and trade specialization to comply with the
employment standards in preferred and emerging marker-driver labor opportunities,
but shall likewise give premium requirements towards attaining a robust inclusive
economy in the host area and the adjacent localities and communities within the
operational radius of the Center.

The Center may establish research and technological hubs, mobile training
programs, and satellite or extension training center in priority areas throughout the
Province of Zamboanga del Sur not only to serve the manpower needs of these areas,
but also to strengthen the linkages among industry, the academe and the Center.

The Center shall, as far as necessary and practicable, offer the following TESDA-
registered technical-vocational training programs with the competency’s assessment
leading to at least National Certification Levels I-III, as applicable, to increase the
livelihood assets and competitive productivity in the entire Province of Zamboanga del
Sur in the following:

a. Skills training in industry technology and hard trades 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 trainings and skills development in such
areas, but not limited to, farming-fishing operations technology, backyard
farming and home-based aquaculture’ and propagation innovations,
mechanized farm and fishing tools and equipment operations, agribusiness,
agri-aqua trade technology and innovations, and relevant’ farmers and
fisherfolks continuing ‘trainings for inereased productivity and
entrepreneurship;


¢. Social communication skills development, language proficiency courses in
English and other languages for business outsourcing (call center) employment
and overseas job placement;

d. Livelihood skills development courses for preferred skills employment and
small-scale entrepreneurship, including practical skills education in crafts and
art, workmanship and designing (fabric, woodworks, jewelry and metal works),
horticulture, livestock raising and breeding, food processing technology, home
technology, culinary arts and commercial cooking, including baking, beauty
culture (includes cosmetology, hair and nail styling), health and wellness
trainings;

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, including
online home-based business operation and use of social media business
marketing;

£ Technical-vocational occupation and trades skills such as carpentry, masonry,
plumbing, practical electricity and installation, automotive technician and
servicing, electronics technician and servicing, ‘welding technician personal
computer (PC) 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 placements,
work ethies and values; and

i, Other preferred priority skills and trade training that may utilized by the people
of Zamboanga del Sur for practical livelihood purposes gainful employment and
entrepreneurial activities.

SECTION 5. Compliance with TESDA Requirements. - The provisions of this Act
notwithstanding, the 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
satisfactorily complied with the minimum requirements for quality standards
prescribed by TESDA governing the following competency assessment: (a) standard
procedures and guidelines (SPGs) for the establishment and operation of a TESDA-
accredited training center; (b) operational sustainability of the Center established
herein, such as licensed faculty-trainers and personnel, equipment, training and


laboratory facilities, instructional materials, and other standard requirement s as
TESDA-accredited training center, (c)sustainable funding source and allocation of
budget requirement of the Center hereto established; (4) assurance that the training
programs offered are fully aligned with the minimum standards of competency-based
quality technical-vocational skills technology and needs of the host area and adjacent
communities within the service area of the Center; (e) program alignment and
benchmarking in the context of the ASEAN framework and the PQF for TVET; and (f)
compliance with such other TESDA conditionalities and stands as may be necessary
and applicable in establishing a TESDA-accredited training center.

SECTION 6. Administration. - The Center shall be headed by a Technical-Vocational
‘Administrator, who shall be appointed by the TESDA Director-General in accordance
with civil service rules and regulations and the qualification requirements for such
office.

The Technical-Vocational Administrator shall render full-time services and
shall be responsible for the administration and operation of the Center. As far as
necessary and practicable, and subject to existing procedures and the approval of the
TESDA Director General, the Technical-Vocational Administrator shall enter into
mutual agreement with local-based counterpart agencies, or instrumentalities and
persons, both private and government, for such assistance as may be necessary to
effectively implement this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The Secretary General of TESDA shall include in the
‘Authority's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The LGUs concerned, in
consultation with 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 DA, the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the DILG, the concerned LGUs, and
such other relevant agencies and industry-business partners of the host locality, shall
prepare and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective of the
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause.- If for any reason, any section of this Act shall be
deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not
be affected and shall thereby remain in force and effect.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause.- All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions,
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

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

Approved,